A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Addis Ababa vs. Port Elizabeth for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth, 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 Port Elizabeth?

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.

Port Elizabeth

Located on the Indian Ocean coastline of South Africa, Port Elizabeth is a major sea port and tourist destination featuring a pleasant climate, opportunities for water sports, historical landmarks, wildlife areas, and clean beaches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Ethiopia, The Best Adventure Tours to Ethiopia, The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, and The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Port Elizabeth or Addis Ababa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $68, while the average daily cost in Port Elizabeth is $44. 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 Port Elizabeth in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Addis Ababa $44
    Port Elizabeth $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Addis Ababa $88
    Port Elizabeth $46
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Port Elizabeth

Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth? 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.

Hotels in Addis Ababa


Hotels in Port Elizabeth


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 Port Elizabeth Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Addis Ababa $7.85
    Port Elizabeth $9.56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.53

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: $21
  • Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
  • City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
  • Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $44
  • Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $175

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth?

Prices for flights to both Port Elizabeth 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Addis Ababa $18
    Port Elizabeth $14
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:


  • 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: $75
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $108
  • 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
  • Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: $239

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Addis Ababa $8.10
    Port Elizabeth $9.37

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.

  • Addis Ababa Tour: $53
  • Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
  • Addis Ababa highlight city tour: $56
  • 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $57
  • Guided City Tour: $59
  • A guided tour of Addis Abeba that includes a city viewpoint: $59
  • Addis Ababa highlights of the city tour: $59
  • Addis Ababa city Tour: $60
  • Addis Abeba's Market and Shopping Tour: $60
  • Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
  • Addis Ababa Guided City Tours: $62
  • Guided City Tour / Addis Ababa Guided City Tour: $62

Tours and Activities in Port Elizabeth

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Port Elizabeth are as follows:

  • 7 Day Garden Route Tour- Durban to Cape Town via Addo N Park: $1,543
  • Addo Elephant Park Tours .: $175
  • From 5-Day Garden Route Tour to Cape Town: $543
  • Port Elizabeth City Walking Tour: $44
  • Port Elizabeth tuk-tuk tour, experience the natural beauty.: $70
  • Cape Recife Safari and City Sightseeing Tour: $140
  • Xhosa Township/Cultural Experience: $127

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Addis Ababa $6.69
    Port Elizabeth $2.58

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
  • The Pub Crawl Royale: A Battle of the Best Drinks: $64
  • 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 Port Elizabeth, we can see that Addis Ababa is more expensive. And not only is Port Elizabeth much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Port Elizabeth would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth.

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 Port Elizabeth Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth?

Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Port Elizabeth. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Port Elizabeth, 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.