Which place is cheaper, Helsinki 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 Helsinki?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Helsinki, 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 Helsinki?
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.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Finland, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesHelsinki Prices
Finland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $36Helsinki $172
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $36, while the average daily cost in Helsinki is $172. 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 Helsinki in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $20Helsinki $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $40Helsinki $152
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Helsinki
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Helsinki? 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 Helsinki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.53Helsinki $23
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$0.24
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: $139
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $21
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $26
- Bole Airport Transfer: $25
- Addis Shuttles: On-Time & Reliable, Airport Transfers: $19
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $16
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Addis Ababa Airport Transfer and pickup: $19
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private City Highlights Tour with Transfer: $729
- Private Transfer from Helsinki City Hotels to Kotka Cruise Port: $218
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki Terminal - Round-Trip Transfer: $215
- Guided Tallinn Day Tour from Helsinki / Include hotel transfers: $215
- Private transfer in Helsinki in Mercedes-Benz V-Class 2 h: $211
- VIP Transfer Helsinki : $178
- PRIVATE Helsinki VIP Transfer: $178
- PRIVATE Helsinki City Tour with Food Tasting and Transfer: $168
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Airport to Hotel: $159
- Private Transfer in Helsinki by Premium class car: $148
- Helsinki Airport (HEL): One-Way Transfer to/from Helsinki: $143
- Helsinki Stopover Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transfers: $137
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Helsinki?
Prices for flights to both Helsinki 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 $14Helsinki $62
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:
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Ethiopia Half-Day Market Tour Food Tour & Coffee Ceremony Tours: $60
- Mom's cooking class: $60
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- City Tour, Food Tour, Shopping Mercato Market : $72
- Ethiopian Cultural Dinner in Addis Ababa with LIVE Traditional Dance Show: $77
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $83
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
- Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
- Ethiopian cooking class: $95
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD Tour with Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $105
- Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $162
- PRIVATE Helsinki Food Tour & Rooftop Bar Visit and transfers: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.64Helsinki $28
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Fullday VIP Tour to The Unity Park, Friendship Park, Entoto park: $95
- "Awash National Park Safari Experience": $280
- 2 Day Lalibela Tours: $300
- 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $295
- 2 Days guided Tour in Addis Abeba: $68
- 2-Day Sof Omar Cave and Sheik Hussein Shrine Tour: $450
- 3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
- 3 Days Visiting Harar and Dire Dawa Tours: $480
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $85
- 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: $3,805
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Helsinki and Porvoo Tour by Private Car with Personal Guide: $194
- 2-Day Helsinki Comfort Tour: $233
- 2-Hours Private Modern Boat Tour in Helsinki Archipelago: $280
- 3 Hours Helsinki Stopover Tour from Airport: $97
- 4 Hour Helsinki Tour from Cruise Port: $69
- 4 Hour Helsinki Tour from Cruise Port: $72
- A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $20
- All-in-One Helsinki Shore Excursion for Cruise Ships: $1,030
- Baltic Bites: A Culinary Nature Experience in Helsinki: $105
- Best Helsinki Half Day Tour from Your Cruise Ship: $76
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $52
- CITY Tour with Food Tasting in Helsinki: $107
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $3.01Helsinki $16
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
- Pub crawl Addis Ababa: $69
- Locally crafted beer and wine tasting and nightlife in Addis tour: $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Helsinki, we can see that Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Helsinki?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Helsinki, 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.