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

Should you visit Dubai or Pyeongchang?

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

Where Should I go: Dubai or Pyeongchang?

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.

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.


Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang or Dubai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $129. 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 Pyeongchang in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dubai $170
    Pyeongchang $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dubai $340
    Pyeongchang $118
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Pyeongchang

Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Pyeongchang? 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 Pyeongchang


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 Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dubai $13
    Pyeongchang $24
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:

  • Yellow Boat Tour Dubai With Transfer Option: $90
  • Yellow Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfers: $110
  • X Line Ride in Dubai Marina with Optional Private Transfers: $270
  • Wild Wadi Waterpark tickets with Private transfer: $148
  • Wild Wadi Adventure Waterpark Tickets With Transfers Option: $93
  • Visit AYA Universe Light and Sound Park in Dubai with Transfer: $65
  • View at The Palm Jumeirah Dubai Tickets With Optional Transfers: $50
  • VR Park Dubai Ticket with Transfer: $86
  • Try Scuba Diving & snorkeling in Fujairah with Transfer: $167
  • Ticket for 3D World Selfie Museum in Dubai With Transfer: $130
  • The View at the Palm,non Prime Time With Two Way Private Transfer: $92
  • The View at The Palm Iconic Palm Jumeirah Views with Transfers: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Pyeongchang?

Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang 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 $96
    Pyeongchang $45
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:

  • Dubai Self Drive Desert Safari Experience with BBQ dinner: $10
  • Dubai Red Dunes Desert Safari with Dinner, Camel, Shows & Pickup: $11
  • VIP Red Dune Safari Dubai,Pick/Drop,Camel Ride, Quad & BBQ Dinner: $15
  • Dune Bashing Red Dunes 4x4 Pick & Drop Shows Dinner Camel: $15
  • VIP Red Dune Safari with Pick/Drop BBQ Dinner Camelride sandbord: $15
  • Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
  • VIP Red Dune Safari with Pick/Drop BBQ/Dinner Camelride Sandbord: $15
  • VIP Red Dune Safari, Pick/Drop, Camel Ride,BBQ Dinner & Quad Bike: $15
  • Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $16
  • Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $16
  • Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Creek with pickup drop option: $16
  • Dubai:VIP Desert Safari with Pick/Drop, Camel Ride, Dinner & Show: $16

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dubai $19
    Pyeongchang $49
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.

  • "Discover Abu Dhabi: A Captivating 6-Hour Guided Tour": $69
  • "Explore Dubai's Highlights: 6-Hour Guided City Tour: $41
  • 05 Hours Dubai Night City Tour: $61
  • 1 HR - Dubai Marina Luxury Yacht Tour: $20
  • 1 Hour Burj Khalifa Ticket with Cafe Treat: $67
  • 1 Hour Kayaking Experience in Dubai Ticket: $43
  • 1-Hour Dune Buggy Self-Drive, Camel Ride & Sandboarding Adventure: $150
  • 10 - 12 Seater Toyota Haice Tourist MiniVan Rental Dubai: $220
  • 1001 Adventure Tour: $71
  • 12 Minute Helicopter Ride Tour From Atlantis Dubai: $238
  • 12 mins Helicopter Tour & The View at The Palm Observatory Deck: $282
  • 12-Minute Helicopter Tour & Desert Safari in Dubai combo: $297

Tours and Activities in Pyeongchang

For Pyeongchang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Balwangsan Cable Car & Samyang Ranch One Day Tour: $78

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dubai $23
    Pyeongchang $8.42
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai

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


  • A Couple Drinks
    $25


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

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



When is the best time to visit Dubai or Pyeongchang?

Pyeongchang has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dubai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Dubai or Pyeongchang in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Pyeongchang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round.

The heat can be very extreme in Dubai. In the summer, Dubai is a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dubai in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 24°C (76°F).

Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Dubai usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the summer. June to August in Dubai is the dry season.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dubai 35°C (95°F) 
    Pyeongchang 24°C (76°F)

Should I visit Dubai or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Pyeongchang. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Dubai is generally much warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 29°C (84°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. Dubai usually gets less rain in October than Pyeongchang. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dubai 29°C (84°F) 
    Pyeongchang 15°C (60°F)

Should I visit Dubai or Pyeongchang in the Winter?

Both Pyeongchang and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year.

Pyeongchang can be very cold during winter. Dubai is much warmer than Pyeongchang in the winter. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 19°C (66°F) in January, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

In January, Dubai usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. The rainy season in Dubai is January to March.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dubai 19°C (66°F) 
    Pyeongchang 0°C (33°F)

Should I visit Dubai or Pyeongchang in the Spring?

Both Pyeongchang and Dubai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Dubai is much warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dubai in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Dubai usually gets less rain in April than Pyeongchang. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Dubai.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dubai 26°C (79°F) 
    Pyeongchang 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Dubai

Dubai Pyeongchang
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 19°C (66°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 0°C (33°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 1°C (35°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Mar 23°C (73°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 6°C (42°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 77 mm (3 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Jun 33°C (91°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 21°C (69°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Jul 35°C (95°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 24°C (76°F) 217 mm (8.5 in)
Aug 36°C (97°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 262 mm (10.3 in)
Sep 33°C (91°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 216 mm (8.5 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 15°C (60°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Nov 25°C (77°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 9°C (49°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 3°C (38°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)