Which place is cheaper, Managua 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 Managua?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Managua, 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 Managua?
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.
Managua
Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesManagua Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $35Managua $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $35, while the average daily cost in Managua is $67. 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 Managua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $19Managua $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $38Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Managua
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Managua? 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 Managua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.40Managua $20
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:
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $146
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
- Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $121
- Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
- Nicaragua Private Transfer Service Managua and San Juan del Sur: $100
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
- Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
- Transfer from and To Poneloya or Las Peñitas Beach- Leon, Nicaragua: $68
- Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $61
- Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $61
- From One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $59
- One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Managua: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Managua?
Prices for flights to both Managua 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 $13Managua $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:
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
- Ethiopian Cultural Dinner in Addis Ababa with LIVE Traditional Dance Show: $77
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
- HALF DAY + DINNER Addis Ababa City Tour: $140
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.51Managua $16
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- "Discover An Exclusive Private Tour Experience": $69
- Addis Ababa City Tours Full-Day Tours : $100
- Fullday VIP Tour to The Unity Park, Friendship Park, Entoto park: $188
- Go where thelocalsgo, Eatwhat the localseat!open MarketTour&More: $71
- 1 Day Addis Ababa City Tour: $180
- 3 Day Private Meskel Festival, Addis Ababa City and Debre Libanos Monastery Tour: $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 Days Trekking Simien Mountains Tours: $250
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $65
- A Guided Tour of Addis Ababa That Includes a City Viewpoint: $65
- Addis Ababa +Mount Entoto View Point,Museums Palace Market Tours: $66
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- 3 full day tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua: $210
- Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $155
- From Managua/Granada: Managua Capital City Tour: $90
- Full day tour: Granada + Boat ride+Handicraft Market+Catarina: $100
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- Managua City Tour: $84
- Managua City Tour: $98
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Tour: $172
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Tour: $356
- Matagalpa Tour, White Waterfall and Black Forest.: $185
- PRIVATE Boat ride + Colonial city tour at Granada+Catarina lookout: $80
- PRIVATE Boat tour + Granada City + Catarina lookout: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.90Managua $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Managua, we can see that Managua 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 Managua is in Central America, 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 Managua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Managua 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 Managua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Managua?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Managua. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Managua, 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.