Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Playa del Carmen, 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 Playa del Carmen?
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.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesPlaya del Carmen Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Playa del Carmen $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Playa del Carmen is $89. 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 Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $17Playa del Carmen $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $34Playa del Carmen $72
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Playa del Carmen? 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 Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.10Playa del Carmen $22
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:
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $23
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $154
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Private Van Transfer to Mahahual: $476
- Private Van Transfer to Bacalar: $476
- Private Van Transfer to Merida: $340
- Cancún: Cozumel 2-Tank Diving Tour with Lunch & Transfers: $327
- Private Van Transfer to Valladolid: $306
- Private Van Transfer to Chiquilá (Holbox): $306
- Private Van Transfer to El Cuyo: $300
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila Ferry Dock: $299
- Private Transfer roundtrip to Xoximilco. from PLAYA and CANCUN: $260
- Private Transfer to Chiquila one-wey, from Cancún and Playa: $260
- Private Transfer From Chetumal to Mahahual With a 2 Hour Stop: $240
- Cielo y Cielito With Transfer, Catamaran, 5 hours Open Bar and Lunch: $217
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen 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 $12Playa del Carmen $37
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $56
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $63
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $79
- Yucatecan Cooking Class & Unlimited Margaritas – Playa del Carmen: $85
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $85
- Temazcal Mayan Ceremony and Dinner in Mayan Village: $89
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $95
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $109
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $109
- Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.20Playa del Carmen $15
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Tour: $30
- 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
- Layover in Addis Ababa 5 hours tour: $38
- Mercato Market & National museum Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $40
- Sightseeing Walking Tour: $40
- Open-bus Tour and Cycling: $41
- Local Food Open Market, City Tours & More.: $42
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
- Merkato Addis Ababa Guided Tour: $42
- Mercato Market Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $43
- Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $45
- Layover in Addis: Tailored Tours for Transit Passengers: $45
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Mayan Jungle Adventure: $180
- Buggy Ride through Playa del Carmen Tour: $139
- Catamaran Cruise in Riviera Maya With Snorkeling & Beach Club: $85
- Cozumel Buggy Tour: $155
- Park Xenses Tour Play with your Senses from Playa del Carmen: $126
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- The Best Ruins Tour : Coba Sunset Cultural / Extreme : $140
- "Tulum Adventures: Between Jungle, Cenotes and Mayan Mysteries": $110
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $210
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $16
- 4 amazing places for 1 price and 1 full day tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote and PDC: $40
- 4 to 7 Day Beach Cruiser Rental (Up to 7 Days, includes Ulock): $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.64Playa del Carmen $19
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 Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Madness tour bar crawl Playa del carmen open bar: $99
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen is in North 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 Playa del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Playa del Carmen?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Playa del Carmen, 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.