Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Cancun, 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 Cancun?
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.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Cancun $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $125. 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 Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $21Cancun $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $42Cancun $166
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Cancun? 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 Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.74Cancun $15
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$0.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $112
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $26
- Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $82
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.42
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$12
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$14
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Airport to Tulum Roundtrip Private Transfer: $290
- Limo Transfer Airport Cancun - Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone: $279
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $261
- Round trip private transfer VAN-Airport-Hotel-Airport-Puerto Morelos: $260
- Private Transfer roundtrip (Cancun Airport-Akumal): $259
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer to Tulum (Round Trip): $250
- Roundtrip Transfer Service to Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres: $248
- Luxury Transfers in a Mercedes Maybach GLS 600: $242
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer One Way: To or From Akumal Area Up to 15 Pass.: $239
- Full-Day Tour to Xcaret Plus with Transfer from Playa del Carmen and Lunch: $238
- Private Transfer from Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum : $227
- Private One Way Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun 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 $8.35Cancun $24
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$0.06
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:
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
- Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
- Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
- Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Señor Frogs Ticket with 2-Course Dinner and Drink: $33
- Captain Hook: Pirate Show and Dinner Cruise in Cancun: $46
- Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $54
- (2x1 price) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience : $63
- (2x1 price) Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show: $63
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $68
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $68
- Private Ultimate Cancun Taco and Street Mexican Food Tour: $69
- Cooking Show & Tequila Tasting: $74
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class : $79
- Mexican Enchiladas, Guacamole and Sope Cooking Class: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.86Cancun $30
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Addis Ababa City Tours Full-Day Tours : $113
- Airport Layover Tour | Addis highlights, National Palace, Coffee Ceremony: $200
- VIP Tour to The Unity Park, National Museum Palaces, Garden, Zoo: $95
- 3 Day Private Meskel Festival, Addis Ababa City and Debre Libanos Monastery Tour: $300
- 3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $85
- A Guided Tour of Addis Ababa That Includes a City Viewpoint: $86
- Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour: $75
- Addis Ababa Bole Airport Culinary and Walking Tour : $89
- Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $70
- Addis Ababa City Tour: $120
- Addis Ababa City Tours: $80
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.51
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$86
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Day Combo Tour, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Chichen Itza Option: $244
- 2 Hours Speed Boat Tour and Snorkeling in Nichupte Lagoon: $39
- Bacalar tour + Lunch + Boat, from Cancun and Riviera Maya: $139
- Cancun Private Street Art Tour: $65
- Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $90
- Full Day All Inclusive Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres : $99
- Full Day Chichen-Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Complete Tour: $37
- Holbox Island Magic Tour from Cancun : $144
- Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres Tour: $152
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Platinum Tour with Open Bar: $115
- Party Adventure at Isla Mujeres from Cancun & Playa del Carmen: $93
- Private Tour to Tulum Ruins and Cenotes : $257
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $3.19Cancun $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Brewery Tour / Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $129
- Small Group EkBalam Pink Lakes Cenote and Tequila Distillery Tour: $287
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Cancun, we can see that Cancun 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 Cancun is in North America, 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun 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 Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Cancun?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Cancun, 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.