Which place is cheaper, Karachi or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Karachi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Karachi, 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 Karachi?
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.
Karachi
Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, and The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $67Karachi $26
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $67, while the average daily cost in Karachi is $26. 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 Karachi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $43Karachi $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $86Karachi $22
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Karachi
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Karachi? 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 Karachi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $7.78Karachi $4.58
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$0.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Addis Shuttles: On-Time & Reliable, Airport Transfers: $19
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $22
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $44
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $110
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Karachi?
Prices for flights to both Karachi 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 $17Karachi $11
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 Addis Ababa: $62
- Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $70
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $75
- Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $120
- 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
- Cooking Class and City Tour in Addis Ababa: $193
- Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.
- Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $94
- Half-Day Karachi Burns Road Private Victoria Ride with Dinner: $100
- Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $8.03Karachi $5.07
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Addis ababa:Highlight tour with tasting coffee and our Food.: $52
- Addis Ababa Tour: $53
- Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
- Addis Ababa highlight city tour: $56
- Addis Ababa highlights of the city tour: $59
- Addis Food Tasting Tour : $59
- Guided City Tour / Addis Ababa Guided City Tour: $59
- Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
- Addis Abeba's Market and Shopping Tour: $60
- Addis Ababa city Tour: $60
- Addis Ababa Guided City Tours: $62
- Addis Ababa Guided City Tour With Airport & Hotel Pick Up: $63
Tours and Activities in Karachi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
- Experience local village life in Sindh: $200
- Full Day Private Tour in Karachi City: $162
- Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $196
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $6.63Karachi $3.35
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: $65
- Locally crafted beer and wine tasting and nightlife in Addis tour: $65
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Karachi, we can see that Addis Ababa is more expensive. And not only is Karachi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Addis Ababa is in Africa and Karachi is in Asia, 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 Karachi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karachi 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 Karachi.
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 Karachi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Karachi?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Addis Ababa. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Karachi, 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.