Should you visit Addis Ababa or Rabat?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Rabat, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Rabat
While not high on the tourist destination list, Rabat is a quiet gem of a city with stunning colonial architecture and palm-lined streets. This political capital is a laid-back, pleasant alternative to the more cosmopolitan Casablanca.
Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg, Rabat plus the city of Temera are home to a combined metropolitan population of 2.6 million.
Which city is cheaper, Rabat or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $60, while the average daily cost in Rabat is $35. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Addis Ababa and Rabat in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Addis Ababa can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $39, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $78.
Travelers usually pay around $44 for a double occupancy room in Rabat If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Local Transportation
To get around in Addis Ababa, the average visitor spends $6.94 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Rabat than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $1.69 on transportation in Rabat on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private transfer: Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa Airport (ADD):
$622
-
Private transfer: Addis Ababa Airport (ADD) to Addis Ababa:
$622
-
Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa:
$124
-
Private Transfer from Addis Ababa to Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD):
$124
-
Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer:
$77
-
Bole International Airport to Addis Ababa City Transfer:
$51
-
Private arrival and departure Transfer:
$45
-
City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa:
$32
Typical Local Transportation prices in Rabat
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Rabat:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rabat
Also for Rabat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private transfer: Rabat Airport (RBA) to Rabat:
$622
-
Private transfer: Rabat to Rabat Airport (RBA):
$622
-
Rabat to Agadir airport transfer:
$524
-
Rabat to Chefchaouen: Private Transfer (English Speaking Driver):
$379
-
Private Transfer from Rabat to Tanger-Ibn Batouta (TNG) Airport:
$352
-
Transfer Rabat to Agadir:
$328
-
Private Transfer from Rabat-Sale Airport (RBA) to Casablanca:
$252
-
Transfer Rabat to Essaouira:
$234
-
Airport transfer from Rabat to Agadir:
$230
-
Transfer Rabat to Marrakech:
$208
-
Transfer Private From Rabat to Fes:
$207
-
Transfer Private From Rabat to Tangier:
$190
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Rabat?
Prices for flights to both Rabat 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
The price of a meal in Addis Ababa can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $16 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $6.40 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
In Rabat travelers spend around $9.94 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Addis Ababa $16
Rabat $9.94
Typical Food prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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:
-
Traditional Ethiopian cooking class in Addis Ababa:
$61
-
Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa:
$65
-
Local Ethiopian Food Tour:
$75
-
Local Ethiopian Food Tour:
$77
-
Ethiopian Cultural Dinner in Addis Ababa with LIVE Traditional Dance Show:
$77
-
Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa:
$90
-
HALF-DAY + dinner Addis Ababa:
$95
-
HALF DAY + DINNER Addis Abeba city tour:
$97
-
Ethiopian Unique Culinary Food Tours:
$98
-
Local Ethiopian Food Tour:
$108
-
Ethiopian Cooking Class and Food Tour, Addis Ababa and Lalibela:
$124
-
Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis with transfers:
$129
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rabat
For Rabat, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Best Moroccan Cooking Class with Chef Khadija ( Over 35 years Experience ):
$25
-
Rabat Family Cooking Class:
$50
-
Cooking Class in a Family Home:
$55
-
Walking Food Tour:
$55
-
Rabat Food Tour in the Old Town:
$56
-
Rabat Food Tour Like a Local:
$56
-
Rabat Restaurant Cooking Class:
$56
-
Food Tour in Rabat:
$103
Entertainment
In Addis Ababa, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $7.16 per person, per day.
Sightseeing expenses in Rabat, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $2.28 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
-
1 Day Addis Ababa City Tour:
$150
-
10 Days Ethiopia Tour Package (Including North and South):
$3,550
-
10 Days in Northern Ethiopia Tours:
$3,520
-
11-Day Bird Watching Tour from Addis Ababa:
$3,558
-
11-Day Historic Tour through Northern Ethiopia from Addis Ababa:
$2,431
-
13 Days Tour to Northern Ethiopia:
$3,333
-
14 Days Northern Ethiopia Tour Package (Danakil, Gondar, Axum and More):
$2,800
-
14-days Northern Ethiopia Tours:
$5,744
-
16 days tour to Historic, diverse landscapes and tribes of Ethiopia:
$4,595
-
2 Days Adventure in Awash National Park, Ethiopia:
$433
-
2 Days Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes Tour from Addis Ababa:
$615
-
2 Days Nature Tour from Addis Ababa to Awash National Park:
$572
Tours and Activities in Rabat
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rabat.
-
3 DAYS PRIVATE TOUR FROM RABAT TO SAHARA DESERT OF MERZOUGA and Marrakech:
$847
-
3 Days Tour From Rabat To Sahara Desert Of Merzouga:
$846
-
4 Day 3 Nights Morocco Family Tour from Rabat to Sahara Desert with kids:
$1,156
-
4 Day Authentic Morocco Tour from Rabat to Sahara Desert:
$1,145
-
4 Day Best of Morocco Tour from Rabat to Marrakech via Fes and Desert:
$1,120
-
4 Day Sahara Desert Tour from Rabat (Tour Finishes in Marrakech):
$1,082
-
7 Nights 8 Days Casablanca Tour:
$750
-
7 days tour from Rabat to Marrakech via Sahara desert:
$2,538
-
Best of Rabat Tour (half-day):
$63
-
Fes Full Day Private Tour from Rabat:
$250
-
From Fes or Meknes: Rabat Sightseeing Private Day Trip:
$228
-
From Hiking and Kayaking Adventure at Dayet Erroumi:
$163
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Addis Ababa, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.91.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Rabat, we can see that Addis Ababa is more expensive. And not only is Rabat much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rabat would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rabat 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 Rabat.
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