Which place is cheaper, Abu Dhabi or Mykonos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mykonos or Abu Dhabi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mykonos and Abu Dhabi. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Mykonos or Abu Dhabi?
Mykonos
Mykonos, a Greek Island in the middle of the Aegean Sea, is part of the Cyclades group. Mykonos is one of the most touristy islands in the Aegean Sea and is famous for its whitewashed buildings that climb up the hill along with historic windmills, stunning hillside views, and fantastic seafood restaurants. Because of its popularity, Mykonos comes with a hefty tourist markup. Many passengers arrive here as part of a cruise, so during the day its small streets can become crowded with tourists and its harbor fills with large ships. August and July are the most popular times to visit, so if you're hoping to avoid to crowds it's best to come a few months earlier.
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best G Adventures Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMykonos €237Abu Dhabi €152
The average daily cost (per person) in Mykonos is €237, while the average daily cost in Abu Dhabi is €152. 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 Mykonos and Abu Dhabi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMykonos €74Abu Dhabi €91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMykonos €148Abu Dhabi €182
Compare Hotels in Mykonos and Abu Dhabi
Looking for a hotel in Mykonos or Abu Dhabi? 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: Mykonos Hotel Prices and Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mykonos €24Abu Dhabi €18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mykonos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Mykonos:
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Bus to Paradise Beach (for 2)€5.60
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Taxi to Kalafatis€13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mykonos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mykonos:
- TRANSFER FROM MYKONOS PORT(Cruise Terminal) TO MYKONOS TOWN: $8.61
- 24-hour Point-Point Mykonos Airport and Port Transfers Service: $20
- Private Luxury Transfer up to 11 Passengers : $22
- 24 Hour Private Transfer Service All Around Mykonos Island: $27
- Delos Island: Roundtrip Boat Transfer from Mykonos Island: $31
- Mykonos Island VIP Transfers: 24/7 Private Transportation: $33
- Private One-way Transfer From Mykonos Airport To Mykonos: $34
- Private Transfer from Mykonos Airport (JMK) to Tagoo : $36
- Private Transfer around Mykonos City: $39
- Transfer Service: $43
- Private Mykonos Airport Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer from Old Port of Mykonos to Mykonos Airport (JMK): $46
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental€29
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Taxi to Airport€13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Transfer To Abu Dhabi Airport: $26
- Private One-way Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To Abu Dhabi: $26
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Port: $38
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi city to Abu Dhabi Cruise Port: $38
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi: $40
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $41
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Cruise Port to Abu Dhabi Hotels: $43
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi HTL-APT(AUH): $52
- Abu Dhabi hotel to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Mykonos or Abu Dhabi?
Prices for flights to both Abu Dhabi and Mykonos 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 dayMykonos €48Abu Dhabi €42
Typical Food Prices in Mykonos
Some typical examples of dining costs in Mykonos are as follows:
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Two Ice cream Cones€4.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mykonos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mykonos.
- Traditional Lunch or Dinner at the Mykonian Spiti: $70
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Light Dinner & Drinks: $101
- Food Tour in Mykonos - 10 Tastings : $108
- Souvlaki Cooking Class in Mykonos: $109
- Cooking Class with Food and Wine: $161
- Cooking Classes in Mykonos Greece: $164
- Private Cooking Class on Naxos Island with Pick Up: $197
- Private Food Tour & Wine Tasting In Tinos Island with a Local: $282
- Private Cooking Class At The Home Of A Mykonian Family: $613
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dubai: Dhow Cruise Marina Multi Cusine Dinner & Tanura Show: $35
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $42
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $45
- Dubai Best Dhow Cruise Dinner Marina: $46
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $49
- Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $50
- Desert Tour with BBQ Dinner and Hotel Transfer: $51
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and all Camp Activities : $72
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $77
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari (Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Sand Skii): $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mykonos €23Abu Dhabi €37
Tours and Activities in Mykonos
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Mykonos are as follows:
- Find your (queer) god Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.72
- Old Town Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Mykonos Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Paddle Boat Experience: $16
- Cellar Tour & Beer Tasting at Mykonos Brewing Company : $30
- Sunset Party Boat Cruise with 1 Drink: $32
- Highlights Walking Tour with a Local: $38
- Walking Tour as a Local: $38
- 1-Hour Guided Snorkeling Adventure with Go Pro Pictures : $38
- Mykonos Walking Tour: $42
- Mykonos Old Town Walking Tour: $43
- Super Paradise Beach: Wakeboarding Experience: $48
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Qasr Al Hosn: Entry Tickets with 1 GB Data eSIM: $8.16
- Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
- Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
- Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $11
- Louvre Join an Express Tour: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi with Tourist Shuttle Bus & eSIM: $17
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
- Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
- Shop & Eat in Abu Dhabi’s Markets Like a Local Walking Tour: $19
- Abu Dhabi Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big UAE Quiz (1 Day Pass): $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMykonos €20Abu Dhabi €12
Sample the Local Flavors in Mykonos
Also in Mykonos, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Winery Vineyard Experience with Food & Wine Tasting: $73
- Tour and Wine Tasting in Mykonian Land : $74
- Wine Tasting at a Mykonian Farm: $81
- Wine Tasting Tour at a traditional farm in Mykonos: $82
- Mykonos Town: Wine tour in Greek Gastronony with a local: $103
- Half-Day Wine Tasting and Snack at a Local House: $129
- Ancient Greek Wine Tasting on the Beach with a Sommelier: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mykonos and Abu Dhabi, we can see that Mykonos is more expensive. And not only is Abu Dhabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mykonos is in Europe and Abu Dhabi is in Middle East, 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 Abu Dhabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Abu Dhabi 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 Mykonos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mykonos than you might in Abu Dhabi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mykonos Expensive? and Is Abu Dhabi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mykonos or Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Mykonos. When comparing the sizes of Mykonos and Abu Dhabi, 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.
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.