Which place is cheaper, Cologne 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Addis Ababa or Cologne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Cologne, 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 Cologne?
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.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.
-
Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesCologne Prices
Germany Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $34Cologne $231
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $34, while the average daily cost in Cologne is $231. 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 Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $18Cologne $106
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $36Cologne $212
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Cologne
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Cologne? 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 Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.30Cologne $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
-
Short Taxi Ride$0.22
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: $27
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
- Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $82
- Bole Airport Transfer: $25
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $39
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $34
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Private Addis Ababa Airport Transfer: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $155
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $115
- Private Limousine Transfer from Cologne Airport to Cologne City: $107
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $91
- Cologne Bonn CGN Airport to Hotels Private Transfer: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne 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
-
Food Meals for one dayAddis Ababa $13Cologne $101
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
-
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:
- 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
- Ethiopian cooking class: $68
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $69
- Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $71
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $76
- Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $80
- Addis Ababa Private City Tour with Immersive Cooking Class Lunch: $85
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
- Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
- Nightlife Tour with Dinner and Live Music: $99
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
-
Dinner$16
-
Donner Kebab$4.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $32
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $35
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.41Cologne $23
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Layover in Addis: Tailored Tours for Transit Passengers: $25
- Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Tour: $30
- Open-bus Tour and Cycling: $35
- 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $37
- Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $37
- Sightseeing Walking Tour: $40
- Addis Ababa half day tour: $43
- Addis Ababa DayTours with Hotel/Airport pick up and drop off: $43
- Flexable city tour; Addis Ababa: $43
- Layover in Addis Ababa 5 hours tour: $46
- Guided City Tour: $48
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cologne Walking Tour from Roman Era to World War 2 with an App : $7.17
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $54
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $66
- AXE THROWING & CRAFT BEER EXPERIENCE IN COLOGNE: $29
- Aachen Cathedral tour with audioguide on mobile app: $7.17
- Aachen English Self Guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $11
- Aachen Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.52
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $283
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.96
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Aachen Town Hall Tour - GERMAN (public): $21
- Awesome Sites of Cologne Private Family Walking Tour: $221
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.81Cologne $26
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
- Locally crafted beer and wine tasting and nightlife in Addis tour: $85
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Informative and fun brewery tour in German, public: $21
- Old Town Walking Tour with 1 Brewery Visit & 1 Beer: $21
- Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $21
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $23
- Night Pub Crawl Tour in Cologne - Shots and Party!: $26
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $29
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $32
- Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $33
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Cologne, we can see that Cologne 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 Cologne 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne 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 Cologne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Cologne?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cologne. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Cologne, 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.