Which place is cheaper, Brussels or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Brussels?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Brussels, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Brussels?
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.
Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the sight of the headquarters of the European Union. Generally speaking, it's an expensive city that sees a good amount of travelers. It is also a highly political city that has an air of importance and power. It's an incredibly international city, with people from all over the world flocking to it due to its political, economical, and cultural significance.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belgium, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Belgium.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesBrussels Prices
Belgium Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Brussels $193
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Brussels is $193. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Addis Ababa and Brussels in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $17Brussels $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $34Brussels $172
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Brussels
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Brussels? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Brussels Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.10Brussels $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $23
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $154
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Brussels are as follows:
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Subway Pass$5.28
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Atomium train ticket (2)$9.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brussels
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Brussels:
- Private Transfer from Brussels Airport or city to Rotterdam By Business car: $296
- Private transfer from Brussels to Ostend, 2h Sightseeing Stop: $265
- Private Transfer from Brussels hotels to Zeebrugge Cruise Port: $246
- Private Transfer From Brussels To Circuit SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Belgium Luxury car : $239
- Direct private transfer from Brussels to Bruges, 2h Stop in Ghent: $216
- Transfer from Antwerp <-> Amsterdam Shuttle (1 to 8 Places): $192
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels Airport to Bruges with Business car: $181
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels Airport to Ghent by Luxury car: $179
- Private Transfer from Brussels to Tomorrowland Dreamville by luxury car: $167
- Brussels <-> transfer from or to Brussels Airport (BRU) by Van: $142
- Brussels Airport (CRL) Private Transfer to Brussels City/Hotels: $139
- Private transfer from Brussels Airport To Brussels: $132
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Brussels?
Prices for flights to both Brussels and Addis Ababa change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAddis Ababa $12Brussels $77
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa
For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $54
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
- Addis Ababa Ethiopian cooking class Airport & hotel pick up: $68
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $70
- Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $75
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $76
- Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $77
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
- Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
- Nightlife Tour with Dinner and Live Music: $99
Typical Food Prices in Brussels
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Brussels:
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Ice Cream & Macaroons$5.40
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Dessert (Turkish Delights)$5.57
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Cheese$6.57
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Olives and Snacks$8.19
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Waffle$3.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brussels
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Brussels.
- Experience Authentic Belgian Cuisine: Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Ghent Local: $99
- Brussels Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $119
- Brussels Food Tour: 10 Tastings of Waffles, Beers, Fries & More: $133
- Market Tour and Cooking Lesson with a Belgian Gourmet Meal in a Brussels Home: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.20Brussels $27
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Tour: $30
- 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
- Layover in Addis Ababa 5 hours tour: $38
- Mercato Market & National museum Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $40
- Sightseeing Walking Tour: $40
- Open-bus Tour and Cycling: $41
- Local Food Open Market, City Tours & More.: $42
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
- Merkato Addis Ababa Guided Tour: $42
- Mercato Market Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $43
- Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $45
- Layover in Addis: Tailored Tours for Transit Passengers: $45
Tours and Activities in Brussels
Here are a few actual costs in Brussels for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in the templar village of Lissewege: $82
- 2-Hour Walking Tour in Fall and Rise of Art Nouveau: $18
- 4 Hour Private Tour in Brussels : $271
- 600 Years of History and Heritage: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Leuven: $12
- A Self-Guided Tour of Brussels' Secret Places and Untold Stories: $12
- A Self-Guided Tour of From Medieval to Modern Times: $9.99
- A day in the life of Brussels - Private tour with a local: $162
- Afternoon Tipsy Tour with Cocktails & Chocolates in Brussels: $46
- Architecture Tour of Brussels: $30
- Art Nouveau's Sublime Capital: An Audio Tour in Brussels: $12
- Artistic Bruges on a Private Tour with a local: $78
- Best Intro tour of Brussels with a Local: $167
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.64Brussels $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Brussels are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$12
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Beer$7.04
Sample the Local Flavors in Brussels
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Brussels:
- Discovery of the La Senne Brewery: $31
- Beer & Chocolate Tasting in a Brewery-Distillery: $79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Brussels, we can see that Brussels is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Addis Ababa is in Africa and Brussels is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Brussels would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brussels than you might in Addis Ababa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Brussels Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Brussels?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Brussels. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Brussels, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.