A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dubai vs. Cochin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dubai or Cochin?

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 Cochin can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dubai or Cochin?

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.

Cochin

Cochin is a large city in Kerala, India. It's a cosmopolitan commercial port city with a population of over two million and is a major tourist destination. The city has a diverse population that has migrated from elsewhere in Kerala, as well as the rest of India. The city continues to become more cosmopolitan with fashion shifting to western styles. There are also many large shopping malls as well as an enthusiasm for sports such as football (soccer) or cricket.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Luxury Tours to India, and The Best Budget Tours to India.


Which place is cheaper, Cochin or Dubai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Cochin is $36. 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 Cochin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dubai $170
    Cochin $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dubai $340
    Cochin $30
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Cochin

Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Cochin? 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.

Hotels in Dubai


Hotels in Cochin


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 Cochin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dubai $13
    Cochin $9.90
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
  • Burj Al Arab Tour - Gold Cappuccino With Private Transfers: $147
  • Dubai Frame & La Perle Dragon Dubai (Bronze) With Transfer: $210
  • Ekart Zabeel Dubai With Transfer: $150
  • Inside Burj Al Arab Tour with Gold Cappuccino and Transfer: $190
  • 1 Day 1 Park (Motiongate or Legoland) with Private Transfer: $185
  • 12 Minute Helicopter Ride in Dubai with Optional Transfer: $255
  • 2 Dives for Certified Divers in Fujairah with lunch & transfer: $167
  • 2 Hour View at The Palm Ticket and One Way Monorail with Transfer: $65
  • 5 Hours Dubai Frame and Global Village Tour with Private Transfer: $135
  • 6 Emirates in a Day Tour with Lunch & Private Transfer Dubai: $195
  • 60 Minute Speed Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfer: $229

Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Cochin?

Prices for flights to both Cochin 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dubai $56
    Cochin $12
Typical Food Prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:


  • French bread
    $0.95
  • Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice
    $10
  • Lemon Mint Tea
    $4.36
  • Coffee & Cake
    $6.54
  • Smoothie
    $5.45
  • 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
  • Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $14
  • Dubai Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet: $15
  • 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
  • Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $15
  • Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dubai $19
    Cochin $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai

For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 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: $2.49
  • Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
  • A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
  • Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.13
  • Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.32
  • 4G Data Roaming eSIM Card for Tourists: $7.22
  • Small-Group Premium Old Town, Souk, & Abra Boat Tour: $7.62
  • Old Town Walking Tour with Souks, Abra Ride & Snacks: $8.00
  • Old Walking tour with Boat ride, Souks and Museums: $8.17
  • Old Dubai, Walking Tour, Souk Shopping, and Abra Ride: $8.85
  • Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah: $8.99
  • Guided Old Town Tour with Souks, Tastings & Boat Tour: $9.53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dubai $23
    Cochin $8.79
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:


  • 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 Tour: $67


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Cochin, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Cochin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Cochin is in Asia, 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 Cochin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochin 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 Cochin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Cochin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dubai or Cochin?

Dubai has a larger population, and is about 88% larger than the population of Cochin. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Cochin, 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.