Should you visit Petra or Dubai?
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 Petra and Dubai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Dubai or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $100, while the average daily cost in Dubai is $198. 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 Petra and Dubai in more detail.
Accommodation
Petra's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $94. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $47.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $272 in Dubai For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Petra can vary, the average travelers spends about $30 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Petra should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Petra is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Petra $30
Dubai $45
Typical Food prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
-
Dinner for Two
$12
-
Juice
$1.76
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:
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Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet:
$17
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Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$18
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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
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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
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $18 per day to get around in Petra.
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.
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:
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Ultra - Dubai Private Airport Transfer from Dubai Airport DXB to city centre:
$8.73
-
Ultra - Dubai Private Airport Transfer from city centre to Dubai Airport DXB:
$8.73
-
Ultra - Dubai Private Airport Transfer from Dubai Airport DXB to Jumeirah Beach:
$8.73
-
Ultra - Dubai Private Airport Transfer from Jumeirah Beach to Dubai Airport DXB:
$8.73
-
Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Ski Dubai/Wild Wadi:
$15
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Dubai to Dubai Airport (DXB):
$17
-
Private Airport Transfer: Dubai Airport (DXB) to Dubai:
$17
-
Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Frame:
$18
-
Sharing Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa, VR Parks, DAUZ):
$18
-
Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Aquaventure/Lost Chamber:
$18
-
Shopping Tour with Sharing Transfers:
$19
-
Dubai City tour with Abra Ride on Sharing Transfers:
$20
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Dubai?
Prices for flights to both Dubai and Petra 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $38 per person, per day in Petra. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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.
Typical Entertainment prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
-
Entry to Petra for One
$71
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.
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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
-
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
-
Dubai Virtual City Tour With Live Video Chat Commentary:
$15
-
Flying Cup Experience Ticket Dubai:
$17
-
Dubai by Night City Tour:
$17
Alcohol
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Petra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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.
Typical Alcohol prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Dubai, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Petra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Petra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Petra 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 Petra.
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