Which place is cheaper, Rome 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 Rome?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Rome, 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 Rome?
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.
Rome
Rome is the kind of city that refuses to stay in the past, even though history is everywhere you look. Ancient ruins rise beside buzzing cafes, scooters zip past Renaissance palaces, and quiet cobblestone lanes suddenly open onto grand piazzas filled with fountains, churches, and street performers. It is a city of layers: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, neighborhood trattorias, stylish boutiques, and late-night gelato walks all woven together into one unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the art, the food, the history, or the simple pleasure of wandering without a plan, Rome has a way of making every day feel like a discovery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesRome Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $28Rome $236
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $28, while the average daily cost in Rome is $236. 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 Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $15Rome $103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $30Rome $206
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Rome
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Rome? 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 Rome Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $2.73Rome $24
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:
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $29
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
- Addis Ababa Layover Tour: Mercato Market & Airport Transfer: $77
- Airport Pickup and transfer: $18
- Cultural Show and Jazz Night with Transfers: $44
- Customizable Layover Tour with Transfers: $55
- Golf Club Experience with Hotel Transfer: $100
- Photography Tour with Guide & Transfer: $62
- Private Tour with Local Guide and Transfers: $65
- Bole International Airport to Addis Ababa Private Transfer: $30
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)$2.28
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Train to the Airport$17
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Taxi to Airport$51
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Private Transfer from and to Civitavecchia from Rome City Center: $298
- Private Transfer from Rome Fiumicino airport to Civitavecchia: $292
- Civitavecchia DA transfer and vice versa: $289
- Transfer from Rome Hotel to Civitavecchia Cruise Port and vice versa: $286
- Transfer services from airports to rome for up to 4 persons: $286
- Private Express Tour of Roman Catacombs with Transfer: $285
- Private transfer from Roma to Civitavecchia port: $285
- Orvieto & Civita E-Bike Tour w/ Private VIP Transfer from Rome: $283
- Transfers from Civitavecchia to Fiumicino/Rome: $281
- Private Transfer Civitavecchia Port to/from Rome City & Airport: $275
- Civitavecchia port transfer to Rome or Fiumicino and vice versa: $268
- From Fiumicino to Orvieto Transfer: $262
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Rome?
Prices for flights to both Rome 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 $11Rome $95
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 Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$16
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.40
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Cafe e doce$4.55
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Pizza (Fast Food)$3.02
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$36
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Cheese and bread$11
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Espresso$2.28
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Dinner$66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Rome Pasta & Tiramisu Making Class & Fine Wine by Cooking Italy: $40
- Rome Pizza & Gelato Class with Wine by Cooking Italy: $40
- Rome Food Tour for Breakfast Lovers: $40
- Rome Early Morning Breakfast and Sightseeing Food Tour: $45
- Rome Ultimate Food Tour Trastevere Tiber Island & Campo de' Fiori: $45
- Rome in the Evening Bike / E-Bike Tour with optional Dinner: $45
- Rome Pizza Making Class for Families in Trastevere: $45
- Milan Street Food Tour and City Guided Sightseeing: $45
- Authentic Gnocchi Cooking Class in Rome - Piazza Navona: $46
- Fettuccine Pasta Cooking Class in Rome City Center: $46
- Pesto and Pasta Cooking Class in Rome City Center: $48
- Rome Street Food Tour: Eat Like a Local: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $2.82Rome $41
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)$79
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$38
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Roma Pass$34
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$23
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Segway Tour$85
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- " Private pantheon tour: Explore Rome's Divine masterpiece": $102
- "Rome of the Popes" E-bike Tour with Guide for Small Groups: $82
- 1 Day Rome Tour from Civitavecchia for Cruise Passengers: $88
- 1 Hour Pantheon Tour: A Time Travel Experience in Rome + Ebook: $109
- 1.5 Hour Electric Golf Cart Rome highlights Tour: $28
- 10 kilometer Running Experience in Rome: $80
- 3 Hour Instagram Private Tour in Rome with Pickup: $172
- 3 Hours Private Photographic and Historical Tour in Rome: $115
- 3 Hours Rome Evening Walking Tour - Piazzas and Monuments: $40
- 3 Hours Rome Tour by Golf Car: $109
- 3 Museums in 1 Ticket of National Roman Museum Pass in Rome: $34
- 3 hour Rome Highlights and Hidden Corners Walking Tour: $92
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.33Rome $21
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine$7.40
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Pint of Beer$7.22
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Beer$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $22
- Discover Frascati Wine Tasting with a Sommelier and Snacks: $27
- Rome [4in1] Pasta Making_Tiramisù_Wine Tasting_Secret Cellar: $33
- Cabaret and Burlesque Show at Rome: $34
- Frascati Wine Tasting Experience with Food Pairing: $46
- Wine Tasting in Trastevere with Food and Gelato: $48
- Experience Rome Exclusive Wine Tasting in City Center: $55
- Rome Wine Tasting in Monte dei Cocci | Authentic Lazio Wines: $56
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $56
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $63
- Rome Nightlife Party Tour Monti Bar Crawl and Local Drinks: $65
- Rome Night Tipsy Tour & Bar Crawl with Forbidden History: $68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Rome?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Rome, 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.