Which place is cheaper, Rotorua 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 Rotorua?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Rotorua, 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 Rotorua?
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.
Rotorua
Located on the banks of Lake Rotorua, Rotorua is famous as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. The area has a variety of geothermal sights, but it is also close to several lakes and has more traditional activities as well, including fishing, boating and white water rafting.
Rotorua is located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which is the largest volcano in the area. There are four major volcanic calderas that now have lakes, and several other volcanoes in the area. Rotorua sits on top of a thermal hot spring, and there are many vents and hot pools throughout the area. Many of the hot pools and sights are located within parks, with some of the best being Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Rotorua has a warm, temperate climate. Because of the area's inland location, it has less wind than many places in New Zealand. Temperatures during the winter months can fall to below freezing, but snow is incredibly rare.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, and The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand.
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Addis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia PricesRotorua Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Rotorua $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Rotorua is $114. 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 Rotorua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $17Rotorua $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $34Rotorua $96
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Rotorua
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Rotorua? 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 Rotorua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.10Rotorua $4.99
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$0.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $154
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $23
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotorua
Also for Rotorua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms: $186
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Rotorua?
Prices for flights to both Rotorua 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 $12Rotorua $50
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$0.05
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:
- Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $54
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
- Addis Ababa Ethiopian cooking class Airport & hotel pick up: $68
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $70
- Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $75
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $76
- Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $77
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
- Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
- Nightlife Tour with Dinner and Live Music: $99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mitai Maori Village: Cultural Experience and Dinner Buffet: $98
- Te Puia: Te Pō Indigenous Evening Experience - Haka + Dinner: $113
- Te Puia: Te Pō Indigenous Evening Experience with Dinner: $117
- Te Pa Tu Māori Cultural Experience with Dinner: $156
- Te Puia: Te Pō Indigenous Combo - Tour, Dinner + Haka: $161
- Evening Starlight Gourmet Kayak Tour with dinner: $202
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.20Rotorua $34
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- "Awash National Park Safari Experience": $280
- 1-Day Tour Old Bridge, Monastery,WaterFalls Wildlife,Birds, : $128
- 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $315
- 2 Days Gheralta Tour Hidden Churches in Northern Ethiopia: $300
- 2-Night 3-Day Danakil Depression Tour without Flights: $300
- 3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
- 3 Days Rock Hewn Churches Cultural Tour in Lalibela: $300
- 3-Day Wild Wonders and Nature, Awash National Park Tour: $490
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $65
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
- 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
- 8 Hours Tour to Taste the Authentic Flavours of Ethiopia: $200
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rotorua
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Rotorua's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Lunch Out for Two$27
Tours and Activities in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4x4 Self Drive Yamaha Experience : $90
- Agrodome Farm Experience including Farm Show and Farm Tour - Rotorua: $35
- Auckland: One-Way Tour to Rotorua with Waitomo Caves: $179
- Auckland: Rotorua Highlights Tour with Wai-O-Tapu & Hot Tubs: $202
- Auckland: Rotorua Highlights inc Te Puia Tour & Redwoods: $206
- Auckland: Rotorua Highlights inc Wai O Tapu & Te Puia Tour: $223
- Auckland: Rotorua Highlights with Te Puia Tour, Show & Lunch: $226
- Cultural Experience & Seasonal Māori Cuisine at Te Pā Tū : $162
- From Auckland: Rotorua Private Day Tour with Spa Experience: $579
- From HELL's GATE Geothermal MUD BATH Half Day Tour: $159
- From Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with Festive Lunch: $177
- From WAI-O-TAPU Geothermal Wonderland Half-Day Tour: $103
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $2.64Rotorua $12
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
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rotorua
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rotorua:
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Bottle of Wine$11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Rotorua, we can see that Rotorua 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 Rotorua is in Pacific, 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 Rotorua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotorua 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 Rotorua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Rotorua?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Rotorua. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Rotorua, 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.