Should you visit Doha or Dubai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Dubai can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Dubai?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
Which place is cheaper, Dubai or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $200, while the average daily cost in Dubai is $248. 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 Doha and Dubai in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Doha or Dubai? 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:
Doha Hotel Prices and
Dubai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
-
Round Trip Private Transfer from Doha Airport DOH to Doha City by minibus:
$2,500
-
Round Trip Private Transfer Doha Airport DOH to Doha City by Luxury Van or Car:
$1,333
-
Round trip private transfer: Doha Airport DOH - Doha City by business Car:
$1,000
-
Airport/Hotel transfer (Group 4-15 Passengers):
$600
-
Private Transfer from Doha (DOH) Airport to Doha City:
$194
-
Private Transfer from Doha City to Doha (DOH) Airport:
$194
-
Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH): Transfer to Doha city:
$180
-
Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$146
-
Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$133
-
Doha Airport Transfer: Doha City to Doha Airport DOH in Van:
$133
-
Doha Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha City in Van:
$133
-
Private Doha Airport Transfer to Doha, Qatar:
$125
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
-
Taxi Ride
$12
-
Airport Taxi
$12
-
Sea Taxi
$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Banana Boat Ride Dubai With Transfer:
$190
-
Dining Experience at Armani Hotel Burj Khalifa With Transfers:
$185
-
Dubai Frame & La Perle Dragon Dubai (Bronze) With Transfer:
$210
-
Dubai Frame With Transfers:
$61
-
Ekart Zabeel Dubai With Transfer:
$150
-
Global Village Dubai With Private transfer:
$85
-
Inside Burj Al Arab Tour with Gold Cappuccino and Transfer:
$190
-
Jet Ski Adventure in Dubai with Optional Transfers:
$111
-
1 Day 1 Park (Motiongate or Legoland) with Private Transfer:
$185
-
1 Hour Dune Buggy Dubai with 2 way Private Transfers from Dubai:
$310
-
1-Hour Quad Biking Tour with Transfer from Dubai:
$61
-
12 Minute Helicopter Ride in Dubai with Optional Transfer:
$255
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Dubai?
Prices for flights to both Dubai and Doha 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
Doha $61
Dubai $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
-
Private Dinner on Safliya Island:
$58
-
Private Dinner on Al Safliya Island:
$76
-
Private Souk Waqif with Lunch or Dinner Tour:
$96
-
Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner:
$143
-
Embrace Doha's Local Food Tour | Sample Delicious Qatari Dishes:
$145
-
Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride:
$188
-
Full-Day Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner || Inland Sea Visit:
$194
-
Doha : Full Day Desert Safari | BBQ Dinner | Inland sea:
$197
-
Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch/Dinner at Souk Al Wakra Tour:
$202
-
Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch/Dinner at Souk Al Wakra:
$202
-
Private Overnight Desert Safari, Dune bashing, dinner & Breakfast:
$220
-
Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride:
$248
Typical Food prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Sunset Deira Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Entertainment:
$12
-
Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner Deira Creek:
$13
-
Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding:
$13
-
Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Creek:
$15
-
Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$15
-
2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner:
$15
-
Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner in Deira Creek - Dubai:
$15
-
Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet :
$15
-
Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek:
$17
-
Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai:
$17
-
2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner:
$17
-
Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek:
$17
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Doha City Tour And Dhow Boat Ride (Private Tour):
$95
-
Doha:Night City Tour|Souq waqif| Katara| Pearl Qatar|Lusail City:
$91
-
Premium Sunset Safari Tour from Sealine, Sand Dunes, and Beach:
$280
-
Private Express Doha City Tour:
$165
-
Private North of Qatar Tour:
$84
-
Private Tour Doha City and Safari Combo:
$150
-
Romantic Tour In Al Wakrah :
$459
-
Romantic Tour In Ar-rayyan:
$442
-
Romantic Tour In Doha:
$453
-
Romantic Tour In Mesaieed:
$459
-
The Best Of Al Wakrah Walking Tour:
$459
-
The Best Of Doha Walking Tour:
$464
Typical Entertainment prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
-
Souqs, Old city & Abra boat tour with guide:
$5.45
-
Dubai Marina: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.50
-
Dubai Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$6.00
-
Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour:
$6.36
-
Historical Dubai walking tour with spices experiences.:
$6.67
-
Ancient Dubai, Hidden Gems, Souks and Museums Tour:
$6.81
-
Skip-the-Line Dubai Global Village Ticket Any Day:
$7.00
-
Mono Rail Dubai Ticket:
$7.00
-
Miracle Garden and Global Village Skip the Line Combo Tickets:
$7.00
-
Old Dubai with Museums, Abra Cruise and Souks:
$8.17
-
Guided Old Town Tour with Souks, Tastings & Boat Tour:
$8.17
-
Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah:
$8.99
Alcohol
Typical Alcohol prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
-
Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours:
$63
-
Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour:
$67
-
Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events:
$110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Dubai, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Doha much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Doha would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Doha 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Doha.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Dubai?
Dubai is bigger, and its population is about 3.3 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the population of Doha vs. Dubai, 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 and the activities that interest you.
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