Which place is cheaper, Addis Ababa or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dubai vs. Addis Ababa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Dubai or Addis Ababa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Addis Ababa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Addis Ababa?
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.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Addis Ababa $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Addis Ababa is $69. 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 Dubai and Addis Ababa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Addis Ababa $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Addis Ababa $88
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Addis Ababa
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Addis Ababa? 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Addis Ababa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Addis Ababa $8.00
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:
- Experience the Nest from Sunset to Sunrise with Private Transfer: $2,250
- Private Transfer From Dubai To Doha Qatar : $2,000
- Dubai Private Transfer in Rolls Royce : $1,954
- Ferrari World Tour with private Transfer for 1 to 7 people: $1,450
- SkyDive and Desert Safari Combo Tour With Transfer: $1,350
- Morning Sky Dive and Evening Global Village Visit with Transfer: $1,350
- Dubai Skydive Tandem Over The Palm With Optional Transfers: $1,300
- BollyWood Parks Family Package With Private Transfer for 1 to 5 people : $1,175
- Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi with Private Transfer From Dubai for 1 to 5 people: $1,150
- Skydive Dubai Tandem Over The Palm With Transfer: $1,150
- Dubai Tandem Sky Diving With Transfers: $1,126
- VIP Desert Safari Package with Stretch Limousine Transfers: $1,084
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$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $111
- Private Transfer from Addis Ababa to Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD): $111
- Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $60
- Bole International Airport to Addis Ababa City Transfer: $51
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $22
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $19
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Addis Ababa?
Prices for flights to both Addis Ababa and Dubai 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 dayDubai $56Addis Ababa $18
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$6.53
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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:
- 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
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner in Deira Creek - Dubai: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Creek: $15
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $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
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $17
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$0.13
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:
- Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $59
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Food Tour -Culinary Tours, Market & Coffe Ceremony in Addis: $65
- City Tour, Food Tour, Shopping in mercato: $72
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $75
- Ethiopian Cultural Dinner in Addis Ababa with LIVE Traditional Dance Show: $77
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $77
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $108
- Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $120
- Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Addis Ababa $8.26
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.
- 30-Minutes Jet Ski Burj Al Arab Tour of Dubai: $125
- 60 Minutes Dubai Yellow Boat Marina Tour: $74
- Abu Dhabi City Tour in 4x4 Private Vehicle : $339
- Abu Dhabi Private City Tour with Ferrari World Entry Ticket: $98
- Abu Dhabi Private tour with professional drive : $299
- Burj Khalifa At the Top & Sky Views Ticket: $91
- Burj Khalifa Tour - Top Sky Ticket 124, 125 & 148 Floor Level Access : $165
- Burj Khalifa at the Top Ticket: $52
- DXB Tour and Aquaventure water park & lost Chambers PRIVATE tour: $215
- Day Tour Of Dubai Hot Air Balloon: $355
- Desert Safari Tour with Private Rooms for stay near Dubai: $1,950
- Dubai (Marina Luxury Yacht) Tour with BF : $95
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- 5 Day Addis,Bahir Dar,Gondar,Simien Mountains and Lalibela Tours: $1,099
- 6 day Omo ValleyTours : $899
- Addis Ababa City Tours Full-Day Tours : $113
- Airport Layover Tour | Addis highlights, National Palace, Coffee Ceremony: $200
- Omo Valley 4days 3nights Cultural Tour: $1,308
- Omo Valley Tours ; 8 Days / 7 Nights: $1,900
- Omo Valley Tribe Tours 8 Days: $1,589
- “Addis Ababa City Tours”: $75
- 1 Day Addis Ababa City Tour: $180
- 10 Days in Northern Ethiopia Tours: $3,520
- 10 Days tour to Lalibela Axum and omo valley: $3,500
- 10-Day Cultural Immersion Experience with Omo Valley Tribes: $2,153
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Addis Ababa $6.82
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: $63
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
- Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Locally crafted beer and wine tasting and nightlife in Addis tour: $59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Addis Ababa, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Addis Ababa is in Africa, 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 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 Addis Ababa.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa is bigger, and its population is about 2.4 times larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the population of Dubai vs. Addis Ababa, 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.
Related Articles for Dubai
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.
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