Should you visit Dubai or Amsterdam?
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 Amsterdam can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. There are over one million residents in the metro area. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The architecture, bridges, and cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
Which city is cheaper, Amsterdam or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $198, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is $158. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Dubai and Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $272 in Dubai For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Amsterdam is about $182 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
The average traveler spends about $45 per day in Dubai for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Amsterdam travelers spend around $39 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dubai $45
Amsterdam $39
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:
-
Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet:
$17
-
Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$18
-
Dubai Deira Cruise with International Buffet Dinner with Live Shows:
$19
-
Cruising with Dinner and Live Shows at Dubai Creek:
$20
-
Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$20
-
Dhow Dinner Cruise at Dubai Creek (Without Transfers):
$20
-
Sail along the Dubai Creek Dhow cruise with a delectable Dinner from AED 60:
$21
-
Sightseeing Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$21
-
Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai:
$22
-
Dhow Cruise Dinner on Dubai Creek:
$22
-
Evening Dhow Dinner Cruise in Dubai:
$22
-
Dubai Creek 2-Hour Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$23
Typical Food prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
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Live online cooking class from Classic European 2-course meal:
$23
-
Three course lunch/dinner voucher:
$42
-
Withlocals the 10 Tastings: Amsterdam's Favourite Private Food Tour with a Local:
$50
-
Private Pizza Canal Cruise Amsterdam:
$62
-
Dinner with an Amsterdam artist on the river:
$62
-
Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café:
$63
-
Amsterdam Small Group Food Tour:
$69
-
Food Tour in the Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam:
$73
-
Delicious Dutch Dinner in an Amsterdam Canalhouse:
$75
-
The Pizzaboat Amsterdam Min. 8 pax:
$75
-
Small-Group Guided Sunset Canoe Tour in Waterland with Dinner:
$76
-
Joy of Life - Bistro Dinner on an Amsterdam Canal:
$84
Local Transportation
Dubai's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $10 per person, per day on transportation in Dubai.
The average price of local transportation around Amsterdam is $19 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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:
-
1 Hour Dune Buggy Dubai with 2 way Private Transfers from Dubai:
$195
-
2 Hours Buggy Can Am X3 with Transfers for 2 Persons:
$654
-
2 Hours Buggy Polaris 1000cc with Transfers:
$391
-
Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers : Dubai City to Abu Dhabi Airport AUH in Luxury Van:
$149
-
Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers: Dubai City to Abu Dhabi Airport AUH in Business Car:
$108
-
Abu Dhabi City Tour & Louvre Museum Admission With Dubai Hotel Transfers:
$72
-
Abu Dhabi City Tour+Lunch with Sharing Transfers:
$52
-
Abu Dhabi City tour with Private Transfers:
$122
-
Abu Dhabi City tour with Sharing Transfers:
$30
-
Abu Dhabi City tour+Ferrari with Sharing Transfers:
$112
-
Abu Dhabi City tour+Lunch with Private Transfer:
$149
-
Abu Dhabi City tour+Warner Bros ticket with Sharing Transfers:
$112
Typical Local Transportation prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
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Private Transfer from Amsterdam to Bayeux - Up to 7 people:
$2,675
-
Excursion Brussels: transfer and guided tour in Brussels:
$2,173
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Amsterdam to Paris: Convenient Luxury Transfer:
$1,860
-
Convenient Luxury Transfer: Amsterdam to Paris:
$1,725
-
Amsterdam to Frankfurt: Convenient Luxury Transfer:
$1,574
-
Convenient Luxury Transfer: Amsterdam to Frankfurt:
$1,460
-
Amsterdam to Brussels: Convenient Luxury Transfer:
$716
-
Convenient Luxury Transfer: Amsterdam to Brussels:
$664
-
Private Transfer from Amsterdam to Berlin with 2 Sightseeing Stops:
$549
-
Private Transfer from Amsterdam to Bruges:
$379
-
Private Transfer form Amsterdam to Keukenhof (Roundtrip incl Tickets):
$373
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Private Transfer from Amsterdam to Brussels:
$347
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dubai can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Amsterdam's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $35 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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.
-
Dubai Full-Day Global Village Tickets:
$4.11
-
Global Village Entry Tickets:
$4.11
-
Global Village Entry Ticket:
$4.19
-
Skip the Line: Global Village Ticket:
$4.32
-
Global Village Dubai (Ticket):
$4.85
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Dubai Global Village Entrance Ticket:
$5.20
-
Dubai Marina: Explore its activities & attractions on this audio walking tour:
$5.50
-
Resident Marina Sightseeing Tour:
$12
-
Dubai City Tour, Dubai:
$12
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Dubai Virtual City Tour With Live Video Chat Commentary:
$15
-
Flying Cup Experience Ticket Dubai:
$17
-
Dubai by Night City Tour:
$17
Typical Entertainment prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 hour Amsterdam City Tour in Pedicab:
$87
-
1,5 hours Amsterdam Rickshaw Tour:
$174
-
1.5 Hour Walking Tour of Amsterdam’s Red Light District with a Local:
$41
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1.5-hour Amsterdam Bubbly Bike tour:
$757
-
2 Hours Private Walking Tour of the Highlights of Amsterdam:
$81
-
2 hours Amsterdam City Tour in Pedicab:
$162
-
2-Day Nightclub Admission Ticket: Best Nightlife in Amsterdam:
$13
-
2-Hour Private Anne Frank Walking Tour with Drink:
$162
-
2-Hour Private Custom Amsterdam Walking Tour With A Local Guide:
$70
-
2-Hour Private Walking Tour:
$306
-
2-Hour Semi Private All-Inclusive Cruise on our Boutique Style boats:
$79
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2.5 hours Amsterdam Pedicab Tour:
$249
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Dubai, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $18.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Amsterdam may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $22 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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 Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Distillery Tour & Tasting:
$22
-
Amsterdam Bar Crawl:
$27
-
Amsterdam Shared Bar Crawl:
$31
-
Private Amsterdam Red Light District and pub tour:
$61
-
4 hour Amsterdam Brewery Tour:
$81
-
High Class Culinary Lunch in Amsterdam - Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$102
-
Drew's 3-Hour Amsterdam Brewery and Bar Tour to Top Rated Bars:
$106
-
Discover 3 gastronomic restaurants in Amsterdam - self-guided food & wine tour:
$129
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Experience 4 Culinary Restaurants in Amsterdam Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$152
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Amsterdam Bachelor Party Bar Crawl:
$488
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Amsterdam, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Amsterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam.
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