Which place is cheaper, Pretoria or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Pretoria can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
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 Eco Tours in South Africa, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa.
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 Pretoria is $50. 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 Pretoria in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Pretoria? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Pretoria 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Pretoria, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Pretoria 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 Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Pretoria Expensive?.
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Pretoria, 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.