Which place is cheaper, Durban or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Durban?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Durban, 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 Durban?
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.
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Ethiopia, The Best Adventure Tours to Ethiopia, The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $68Durban $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $68, while the average daily cost in Durban is $52. 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 Durban in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $44Durban $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $88Durban $48
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Durban
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Durban? 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 Durban Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $7.85Durban $13
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$0.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $175
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $109
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $44
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $21
- Addis Shuttles: On-Time & Reliable, Airport Transfers: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $500
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $107
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Business Car: $78
- Departure Private Transfer: Durban City to Durban Airport DUR by Business Car: $76
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $46
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers : $39
- Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $35
- Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $32
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Durban?
Prices for flights to both Durban 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 $18Durban $16
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$0.12
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: $75
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $108
- 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
- HALF DAY + DINNER Addis Ababa City Tour: $140
- Half Day + Dinner Addis Ababa City Tour: $150
- Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis with transfers: $154
- Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
- Food tours in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: $240
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $8.10Durban $16
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
- 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $311
- 3 Day Private Meskel Festival, Addis Ababa City and Debre Libanos Monastery Tour: $300
- 3 Days Visiting Harar and Dire Dawa Tours: $480
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa highlights city tour from Bole airport: $75
- 5 Days Visiting Tigray Churches Tours: $1,200
- 9 Days Omo Valley and Danakil Danakil Depression tour: $3,850
- A guided tour of Addis Abeba that includes a city viewpoint: $59
- Addis Ababa - Half Day City Tour: $180
- Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour: $75
- Addis Ababa Bole Airport Culinary and Walking Tour : $69
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 1/2 Day Durban City & Phezulu Tour From Durban: $149
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $122
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $155
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $145
- 1/2 Day Phezulu Safari Tour from Durban: $149
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $151
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park Tour from Durban: $151
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $150
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $152
- 12 Days Best Of South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to CapeTown: $3,353
- 15 Day Tour Cape Town to Johannesburg: $3,151
- 2 Day Hluhluwe Imfolo & Isimangaliso W/Park Tour from Durban: $634
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $6.69Durban $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Pub crawl Addis Ababa: $55
- Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
- The Pub Crawl Royale: A Battle of the Best Drinks: $64
- Locally crafted beer and wine tasting and nightlife in Addis tour: $65
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $69
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Durban, we can see that Addis Ababa is more expensive. And not only is Durban much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durban would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durban 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 Addis Ababa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Addis Ababa than you might in Durban.
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 Durban Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Durban?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Addis Ababa. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Durban, 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.