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

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Valletta?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Valletta, 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 Valletta?

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.

Valletta

A harbor city and the capital city of the island of Malta, Valletta dates back to the 16th-century with a preserved architectural heritage that earned the city a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is best known for its museums, palaces, and churches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta.

Which place is cheaper, Valletta 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

Valletta Prices
Malta Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Addis Ababa $36

Valletta $144

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $36, while the average daily cost in Valletta is $144. 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 Valletta in more detail.

Accommodation

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Addis Ababa $20

Valletta $67
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Addis Ababa $40

Valletta $134

Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Valletta

Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Valletta? 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 Valletta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Addis Ababa $3.53

Valletta $25

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:

Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $135
Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $35
City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $36
City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $82
Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $15
Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $16
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 Valletta

Also for Valletta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

Temples Tour (Pick-up, Transfer, Tickets & Drop-off Included): $224
Guided Private Malta or Gozo Highlights Tour with Transfer: $175
Malta, Gozo & Comino Private Sightseeing Tour with Transfer: $154
Private Transfer from Malta hotels to Valletta Cruise Port: $120
Airport Transfers (Private Group up to 15 people): $98
From Malta: Gozo Jeep Tour with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $84
Private Airport Transfer in Malta: $84
Malta: Half-Day Quad Bike Adventure Tour Including Transfers: $81
Turkish Gullet Cruise to Gozo and Comino with Lunch and Transfers: $79
Airport transfers to all locations in Malta (Private Groups or Families): $77
Private Transfer to Malta Airport: $73
From Sliema: Three Bay Cruise with Lunch and Transfers: $66

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Valletta?

Prices for flights to both Valletta 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

Valletta $58

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valletta

For Valletta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

Valletta Food Tour - Eat like a local: $46
Valletta Food Tour: $47
Romantic Italian Cuisine Dinner in Valletta: $53
Folklore Evening Dinner Show at a Traditional Maltese Restaurant Incl. Transfers: $64
Fireworks Festival Cruise Including Dinner, Drinks and Transport: $77
Christmas Tour in Gozo (afternoon) inc. Dinner: $83
From Malta: Blue Lagoon and Gozo Tour w/Quads and Dinner: $118
The Valletta Food Tour Experience, a private tour: $150
Private Valletta Food Tour: $175

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Addis Ababa $3.65

Valletta $28

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

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

Airport Layover Tour | Addis highlights, National Palace, Coffee Ceremony: $200
Fullday VIP Tour to The Unity Park, Friendship Park, Entoto park: $188
"Awash National Park Safari Experience": $280
1 Day Addis Ababa City Tour: $180
2 Day Private Tour in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: $151
2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $311
2 Days Gheralta Tour Hidden Churches in Northern Ethiopia: $240
3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $59
4 Hours Addis Ababa highlights city tour from Bole airport: $75
A Guided Tour of Addis Ababa That Includes a City Viewpoint: $65
A guided tour of Addis Abeba that includes a city viewpoint: $62

Tours and Activities in Valletta

For Valletta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

2 hour Private Boat Adventure Tour of Comino and Blue Lagoon: $252
3 Cities Tour: $16
3 Hours Private Picnic Experience in Malta: $273
3 cities: Private Insider Walking Tour with Licensed Guide: $154
30-Minute Mdina Experience Audio-Visual Show Ticket (Open Ticket): $6.55
48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Pass Bus + Harbour Cruise: $55
90 minutes Harbour Cruise in Valletta - ticket only: $22
A Monumental Maltese Experience: $173
Adventures in Malta: Thrills, History, and Natural Beauty: $431
All Inclusive Blue Lagoon & Sunset Quad Tour in Gozo : $105
All Inclusive Sunset Tuk Tuk Tour in Gozo & Blue Lagoon in Comino: $89
An Insider's Malta VIP Tour: $155

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Addis Ababa $3.01

Valletta $16

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Valletta

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

Malta Pub Crawl: $22
Romantic Wine Tasting Experience at Koccio Valletta: $31
The Brewery Experience & beer tasting including transport: $33
The Brewery Experience Self-Guided Tour with Tasting & Transport: $33
Malta: The Three Cities and Wine Tasting Tour: $42
The Farsons Brewery & Gastro experience in Birkirkara: $50

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Valletta, we can see that Valletta 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 Valletta 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 Valletta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valletta 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 Valletta Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Valletta?

Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 410 times larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Valletta, 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. Valletta for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons