Which place is cheaper, Durban 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 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 Overlanding Trips in South Africa, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesDurban Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Durban $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Durban is $69. 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 $17Durban $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $34Durban $54
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 $3.10Durban $14
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:
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $154
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $23
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $116
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $111
- Departure Private Transfer Durban to Durban Airport DUR by Sedan: $81
- Durban Private Airport Arrival Transfer: $66
- Private Durban Airport Departure Transfer: $65
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers : $50
- Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $50
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $49
- Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $47
- Durban airport to Durban city transfer: $39
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 $12Durban $30
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.20Durban $18
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- "Awash National Park Safari Experience": $280
- 1-Day Tour Old Bridge, Monastery,WaterFalls Wildlife,Birds, : $128
- 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $315
- 2 Days Gheralta Tour Hidden Churches in Northern Ethiopia: $300
- 2-Night 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour without Flights: $300
- 3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
- 3 Days Rock Hewn Churches Cultural Tour in Lalibela: $300
- 3-Day Wild Wonders and Nature, Awash National Park Tour: $490
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $65
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
- 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
- 8 Hours Tour to Taste the Authentic Flavours of Ethiopia: $200
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- Sani Pass Lesotho 4x4 Tour from Durban : $229
- 1 Day Safari Isimangaliso Boat Cruise & Game Safari From Durban : $205
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $143
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $180
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $189
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $190
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $178
- 5-Day Zululand Tour of Drakensberg, Hluhluwe & Isimangaliso: $1,719
- A Full Day Safari Tour to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve: $202
- Battle of Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift Battle Day Tour From Durban: $261
- Battlefield Tour, Duration : 14hrs, Cost : R4390pp -2/more trav.: $260
- Battlefields Tour (Anglo-Zulu) 1879, Rorkes drift & Isandlwana: $225
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.64Durban $14
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Stellenbosch and Franschoek Winelands Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour: $259
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Durban, we can see that Durban is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Durban would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durban 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 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.