Which place is cheaper, Riga 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 Riga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Riga, 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 Riga?
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.
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesRiga Prices
Latvia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $28Riga $138
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $28, while the average daily cost in Riga is $138. 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 Riga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $15Riga $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $30Riga $118
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Riga
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Riga? 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 Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $2.73Riga $11
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$0.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Pickup and transfer: $18
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport: $23
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $29
- Bole International Airport to Addis Ababa Private Transfer: $30
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $39
- Cultural Show and Jazz Night with Transfers: $44
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Private Addis Ababa Airport Transfer: $55
- Customizable Layover Tour with Transfers: $55
- Photography Tour with Guide & Transfer: $62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Riga Prison Break Transfer with Retro Bus and Drinks: $1,498
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Pärnu City Tour: $680
- 100% Private Countryside Sauna, Hot Tub & Transfer: $565
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $494
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $448
- 2-Hour Quad Bike Tour with Transfer: $311
- Private Transfer: Ryga to Klaipeda via Hill of Crosses & Rundale Palace: $299
- Abandoned Building Exploration Tour with Transfer: $288
- Private Transfer from Riga to Baltics: $258
- 4x4 Off-Road Adventure with Hotel Transfers: $254
- Super Grand Prix - Go-Kart Racing with Transfers: $249
- Baltic Explorer Private Riga–Tallinn/Tallinn–Riga Transfer & Tour: $206
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Riga?
Prices for flights to both Riga 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 $11Riga $65
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$0.04
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:
- Authentic Ethiopian Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Berbere Bites Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $49
- Addis Eats Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $49
- Addis Ababa Food Tour: Ethiopian Cuisine, Coffee & Drinks: $50
- Berbere Bites Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $50
- Addis Eats Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $50
- Flavors of Ethiopia: Hands-On Cooking Class in Addis Ababa: $55
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Addis Ababa Ethiopian Food Cooking Class and Kitchen Tour: $60
- Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $60
- Addis Ababa Cooking, Coffee & Traditional Drink Tasting: $65
- Ethiopian Cooking Class with Coffee Ceremony: $70
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch$6.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Riga Central Market Food Tour with Guide & Tastings ENG, DE: $26
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour with 20 taste samples: $52
- Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $69
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $69
- Latvian Cooking Class in a Local Home: $114
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $248
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $2.82Riga $16
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Addis Ababa City Tour & Coffee Ceremony with Shopping areas: $18
- National Museum Guided Tour with Lucy Fossil: $28
- Guided Walking Tour with Coffee & Food: $28
- Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Tour: $30
- Guided City Tour with Coffee Break & Entry fee: $30
- Kebena to Entoto Green Corridor Discovery Tour: $30
- Premium Addis Ababa Piassa Walking Tour with Coffee Ceremony: $32
- Mercato Market Guided Tour with Hotel Pickup: $32
- Best Addis Ababa Half-Day Tour: $32
- Flexible City tour Museum's,other layover vist: $35
- Red Terror Memorial Storytelling Experience: $35
- Coffee Ceremony & Traditional Clothing Tour: $36
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Legends and Secret of Riga's Old Town: $102
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $90
- 5,5 Hour Small Group Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $86
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $78
- Ancient Private Walking Tour in Riga Old Town Hunt: $99
- Art Nouveau Riga Walking Tour Architectural Gems and Highlights: $52
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Bushwalking/Hiking adventure from Riga: $80
- City Sightseeing Riga Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour: $34
- Civilization Secrets Private Walking Tour in Riga: $455
- Da Vinci Genius immersive art experience in Riga: $17
- Day Tour from Riga to Vilnius via Kaunas Sugihara Museum: $298
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.33Riga $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Pastry, Chocolate, and Wine Tour with Pickup: $60
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer and Riga Balsam Tasting: $32
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $33
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $34
- Combo Brewery Tour + Canal Boat tour: $39
- Pub Crawl- Your best night out in Riga with our local guide!: $40
- 2 in 1 - Old Town Walking Tour & Pub Crawl: $40
- Private - Riga Pub Crawl: $40
- Riga 2 in 1 Tour: Art Nouveau Tour & Pub Crawl: $45
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Riga, we can see that Riga 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 Riga is in Europe, 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga 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 Riga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Riga?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Riga, 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.