Should I Visit Addis Ababa or Rome for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

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 capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.

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.

Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia Prices

Rome Prices
Italy Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Addis Ababa $36

Rome $211

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $36, while the average daily cost in Rome is $211. 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

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Addis Ababa $20

Rome $91
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Addis Ababa $40

Rome $182

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

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Addis Ababa $3.53

Rome $22

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

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

Short Taxi Ride

$0.24

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: $19
Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $15
Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $82
City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $36
City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $35
Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $135

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:

Metro Ride (for Two)

$2.06
Train to the Airport

$15
Taxi to Airport

$46
Bicycle Rental (Full Day)

$10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:

Private Transfer from Amalfi to Rome or viceversa: $805
From Sorrento: Private Transfer to Rome or Vice Versa: $779
Sorrento to Rome 1-Way Private Transfer: $636
From Private Transfer to Naples or Vice Versa: $564
Transfer from Positano to Rome area & Pompeii Guided Tour: $435
Private Transfer: from Amalfi to Rome: $355
Sorrento: Private Transfer to Rome City or Airport: $346
Private transfer from Rome to Sorrento or vice versa: $298
Civitavecchia(Rome's cruise port):Private Transfer to Rome Fiumicino(FCO)airport: $294
Rome Private Transfer from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Civitavecchia Cruise Port: $293
Civitavecchia Port Private Transfer - To or From Rome: $292
Civitavecchia to Rome and back - Private Roundtrip Transfer: $292

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

Food Meals for one day

Addis Ababa $14

Rome $85

Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

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

Slice of Cake

$0.06

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:

Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
Ethiopian cooking class: $61
Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
Ethiopian Cultural Dinner in Addis Ababa with LIVE Traditional Dance Show: $77
Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $80
Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $81
Addis Ababa Private City Tour with Immersive Cooking Class Lunch: $85
Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $120

Typical Food Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:

Casual Lunch (for Two)

$14
4 Ice Cream Sandwiches

$3.08
Cafe e doce

$4.13
Pizza (Fast Food)

$2.73
Sitdown Lunch (for Two)

$33
Cheese and bread

$10
Espresso

$2.06
Dinner

$60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.

Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $25
Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
Pizza Making Class with wine & Tiramisu: $30
Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $30
Rome Food Tour with Wine Tasting and Farmers Market in Prati Area: $30
Pasta Making with Wine Tasting and Dinner in Frascati: $31
Trastevere or Jewish Quarter Street Food Tour: $34
Roman Master Chef Cooking Class with Wine: $35
Roman Dinner after History Tour: An Epic Journey Through Time: $36
Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $37
Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $41
Vatican Street Food Tour and Wine Experience with Local Guide: $41

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Addis Ababa $3.65

Rome $37

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

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

Layover in Addis Ababa 5 hours tour: $36
Addis Ababa city tour.: $49
Pup crawl and nightlife tour in Addis Ababa.: $50
Best of Merkato Addis Guided Tour: $50
Guided City Tour: $52
Addis Ababa highlight city tour: $54
Authentic Addis Ababa City Tour with a Local Guide: $55
4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $59
Ethiopia Half-Day Market Food & Coffee Ceremony Tours: $60
Limalimo ethiopia tours: Full-Day Addis Ababa City Tour: $60
City Highlights and Market Tour: $60
Layover Tour with National Museum & Mercato: $60

Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome

Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:

Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)

$71
Coliseum Tickets (for Two)

$34
Roma Pass

$31
Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)

$21
Segway Tour

$77

Tours and Activities in Rome

Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

2 Hours Guided Walking Tour in St. Peter's and Dome Exploration: $99
An Immersive Walking Tour in Rome : $89
Appian Way and Aqueducts Electric Bike Tour: $78
Best of Rome by Night Private Sightseeing Chauffeured Tour: $198
Castel Sant Angelo Skip the Line Tickets: $38
Chauffeured Private Tour of Rome: $289
Colosseum Tour With Kids: $187
Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour Professional Guided Tour : $145
Exclusive Colosseum Arena Floor Tour and Ancient Rome Access: $207
Express Highlights of Rome Tour in a Golf Cart: $66
Golfcart adventure in Rome: $136
Hidden Gems & Rome Catacomb Semi Private Tour 8 People Max. : $94

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Addis Ababa $3.01

Rome $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 ): $52
Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65

Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:

Bottle of Wine

$6.71
Pint of Beer

$6.54
Beer

$10

Sample the Local Flavors in Rome

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:

Unique Wine Tasting in Enoteca in Rome San Pietro Area: $29
Trionfale and Prati Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $30
Cabaret and Burlesque Show Entry Ticket: $31
Cabaret and Burlesque Show: $31
Experience Wine Tasting in Macchiavelli, Rome: $33
Trastevere Wine Tasting with Food Pairing and Gelato: $37
Vatican Quarter and Trionfale Farmers Market Food and Wine Tour: $41
Wine Tasting in Trastevere with Food and Gelato: $43
Rome's Ultimate Party aka the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl: $50
Bar Crawl with Guide and Drinks Included: $50
Agricultural Brewery Tour in the Roman Countryside: $52
The Burlesque Experience of Rome with Verissima Show: $57

How are these travel costs calculated?

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.

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

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Rome?

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

Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Rome?

Addis Ababa

Rome

Which place is cheaper, Rome or Addis Ababa?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Rome

Local Transportation

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Rome?

Food

Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa

Typical Food Prices in Rome

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome

Tours and Activities in Rome

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa

Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome

Sample the Local Flavors in Rome

Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Rome?

Related Articles for Rome

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

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Rome?

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

Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Rome?

Addis Ababa

Rome

Which place is cheaper, Rome or Addis Ababa?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Rome

Local Transportation

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Rome?

Food

Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa

Typical Food Prices in Rome

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome

Tours and Activities in Rome

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa

Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome

Sample the Local Flavors in Rome

Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Rome?

Related Articles for Rome

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