Which place is cheaper, Soweto or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Soweto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Soweto, 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 Soweto?
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.
Soweto
The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg. It is a city of contrasts, featuring anything from tin shanties to luxurious mansions, and is probably best known for being the home of two Nobel Prize winners.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Soweto $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Soweto is $67. 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 Soweto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $21Soweto $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $42Soweto $68
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Soweto
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Soweto? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.74Soweto $13
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$0.25
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: $112
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $22
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $26
- Addis Shuttles: On-Time & Reliable, Airport Transfers: $20
- Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $82
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Soweto?
Prices for flights to both Soweto 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 $8.35Soweto $22
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$0.06
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
- Mom's cooking class: $60
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $70
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $87
- Ethiopian cooking class: $95
- Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
- Food tours in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: $103
- Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.86Soweto $17
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Addis Ababa City Tours Full-Day Tours : $113
- Airport Layover Tour | Addis highlights, National Palace, Coffee Ceremony: $200
- VIP Tour to The Unity Park, National Museum Palaces, Garden, Zoo: $95
- 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $295
- 2 Days guided Tour in Addis Abeba: $68
- 2-Day Sof Omar Cave and Sheik Hussein Shrine Tour: $450
- 3 Day Private Meskel Festival, Addis Ababa City and Debre Libanos Monastery Tour: $300
- 3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
- 3 Days Visiting Harar and Dire Dawa Tours: $480
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $85
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa highlights city tour from Bole airport: $75
- 5 Days Visiting Tigray Churches Tours: $1,200
Tours and Activities in Soweto
For Soweto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $63
- Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $103
- Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $3.19Soweto $8.90
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: $59
- Pub crawl Addis Ababa: $69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Soweto, we can see that Soweto is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Soweto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Soweto 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 Soweto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Soweto?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Soweto. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Soweto, 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.