Which place is cheaper, Dubai or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $200Dubai $248
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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Dubai $170
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Dubai $340
Compare Hotels in Doha and Dubai
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Dubai $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Private Full Day City Sightseeing Tour with Transfer: $270
- Private Transfer from Doha City to Doha (DOH) Airport: $190
- Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH): Transfer to Doha city: $175
- Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $143
- Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $130
- Private Arrival Transfer - Al Khor: $120
- Arrival Transfer: Hamad Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $119
- Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $119
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $119
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Doha with Roundtrip Transfer: $115
- Private transfer from Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha city: $114
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Car: $107
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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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
- Dubai Maktoum DWC to Al Ain Private Limo-Van Transfer: $67
- Jet Ski Adventure in Dubai with Optional Transfers: $109
- Wild Wadi Water Park with Round-Trip Transfers: $170
- 1 Day 1 Park (Motiongate or Legoland) with Private Transfer: $185
- 1-Hour Quad Biking Tour with Transfer from Dubai: $61
- 2 Hour View at The Palm Ticket and One Way Monorail with Transfer: $65
- 4 Seater Jet Car Adventure in Dubai with Optional Transfer: $280
- 60 Minute Speed Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfer: $229
- A Japanese Business Lunch Experience in Dubai with Transfer: $119
- A visit To Quranic Park & Jumeirah Mosque With Transfer: $120
- AYA Universe Dubai Ticket with Transfer option: $33
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
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Food Meals for one dayDoha $61Dubai $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 Al Safliya Island: $76
- Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $143
- BBQ Dinner in the desert resort; Dune bashing & camel ride: $165
- Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride: $195
- Doha : Full Day Desert Safari | BBQ Dinner | Inland sea: $197
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch/Dinner at Souk Al Wakra: $202
- Private Overnight Desert Safari, Dune bashing, dinner & Breakfast: $220
- Full Day Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner: $234
- From Overnight Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner: $240
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek with Buffet Dinner: $14
- Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding: $14
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai: $14
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Creek: $15
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $16
- Cruising With Dinner And Live Shows At Dubai Creek: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner Deira Creek: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek with pickup & drop off: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Dubai $19
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Express Doha City Tour: $165
- Transit/Layover Tours from Doha Airport – Explore Doha City : $105
- (Private) Quickie to the Desert Safari Experience - Inland Sea Visit: $100
- 1 Hour Camel Ride Experience in Sealine Beach: $172
- 3-Hour Kayaking Eco Adventure - Mangrove Purple Island : $70
- 4 Hours Purple Island Mangroves Kayaking Adventure in Qatar: $130
- 4 Hours-Doha City Private Tour: $74
- 4-Hour Private Group City Tour in Doha, Qatar: $72
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Msheireb Museums: $100
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Msheireb Museums and city tour: $75
- 8-Hour Private Cultural Tour: $288
- Adventure Dune Buggy Self Ride and Camel Ride : $260
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Tourist eSIM/SIM Card with Data and Minutes: $2.46
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.13
- 4G Data Roaming eSIM Card for Tourists: $7.19
- Small-Group Premium Old Town, Souk, & Abra Boat Tour: $7.90
- Old Dubai, Walking Tour, Souk Shopping, and Abra Ride: $8.85
- Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah: $8.99
- Dubai Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Guided Old Town Tour with Souks, Tastings & Boat Tour: $9.67
- Walking Tour, Old Town, Abra, Souks & Street Food: $9.80
- Global Village Tickets : $10
- Dubai Fountain Show Boat Lake Ride or Bridge Walk Tickets options: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Dubai $23
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
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: $66
- 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Dubai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Dubai?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha and 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 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.