Which place is cheaper, Karachi 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 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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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesKarachi Prices
Pakistan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $34Karachi $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $34, while the average daily cost in Karachi is $33. 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 $19Karachi $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $38Karachi $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 $3.36Karachi $4.54
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$0.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $17
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $34
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $35
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $152
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Karachi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Karachi:
- Karachi Pick up and Dropoff Transfer : $50
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 $13Karachi $19
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:
- Cooking Class, Injera baking & coffee ceremony: $48
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $58
- Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $60
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
- Ethiopian cooking class: $68
- Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $80
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $86
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
- Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $90
- Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.
- Half Day Karachi Burns Road Private Rikshaw Ride with Dinner: $150
- Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199
- Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $209
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.47Karachi $5.02
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
- Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $34
- Half day Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
- Addis Ababa DayTours with Hotel/Airport pick up and drop off: $45
- Addis Ababa half day tour: $45
- Pup crawl and nightlife tour in Addis Ababa.: $50
- Addis Ababa City Tour: $50
- Explores the Heart of Addis Ababa full day city tour: $50
- Addis Ababa City Tour. : $52
- Local Food Open-Air Markets Walking Tour& More: $52
- Addis Ababa highlight city tour: $55
- Addis Ababa Group City Day Tour: $55
Tours and Activities in Karachi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
- Day Tour in Karachi Unesco Heritage: $150
- Experience local village life in Sindh: $300
- Full Day Private City Tour of Karachi: $110
- Full Day Thatta Unesco Sites Tour: $130
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- Karachi Private City Tour: $120
- Karachi Sightseeing Private City Tour.: $199
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.86Karachi $3.31
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
When comparing the travel costs between Addis Ababa and Karachi, we can see that Addis Ababa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Addis Ababa is in Africa and Karachi is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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.