Which place is cheaper, Dubai or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Dubai?
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 Petra and Dubai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Dubai?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Dubai $248
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Dubai is $248. 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 Petra and Dubai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Dubai $170
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Dubai $340
Compare Hotels in Petra and Dubai
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Dubai? 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Dubai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Dubai $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with Optional transfer: $10
- Private Dubai Airport Transfer DXB to Anywhere in Dubai: $13
- Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Aquaventure/Lost Chamber: $18
- Sharing Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa, VR Parks, DAUZ): $18
- Dubai Airport Transfers from all terminals: $19
- Dubai Global Village All Days Ticket With Shared Transfer: $20
- Dubai Frame Entry Ticket With Optional Transfer: $20
- Dubai Frame Ticket with Optional Private Transfer: $20
- Dubai Frame Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $20
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Dubai Airport (DXB): $20
- Dubai Airport Private one way Arrival or Departure Transfer: $22
- Dubai Airport Shuttle - One Way Departure Transfer: $22
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPetra $38Dubai $56
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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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
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Creek: $15
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $16
- 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
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner Deira Creek: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek with pickup & drop off: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Dubai $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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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: $2.46
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.13
- 4G Data Roaming eSIM Card for Tourists: $7.19
- Small-Group Premium Old Town, Souk, & Abra Boat Tour: $7.90
- Old Dubai, Walking Tour, Souk Shopping, and Abra Ride: $8.85
- Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah: $8.99
- Dubai Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Guided Old Town Tour with Souks, Tastings & Boat Tour: $9.67
- Walking Tour, Old Town, Abra, Souks & Street Food: $9.80
- Global Village Tickets : $10
- Dubai Fountain Show Boat Lake Ride or Bridge Walk Tickets options: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Dubai $23
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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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 Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
- Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Dubai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Dubai?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Dubai, 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.
When is the best time to visit Petra or Dubai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Petra or Dubai in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Petra as well as Dubai. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year.
Also, June to August in Dubai is the dry season. Petra usually gets less rain in July than Dubai. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Dubai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Dubai. It's very hot in Petra this time of the year. Petra is around the same temperature as Dubai in the summer. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Dubai fluctuates around 35°C (95°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Dubai 35°C (95°F)
Should I visit Petra or Dubai in the Autumn?
Both Dubai and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Dubai. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Dubai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Petra is around the same temperature as Dubai. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Petra in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Dubai averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Dubai 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Petra or Dubai in the Winter?
Both Dubai and Petra during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round.
January to March is the rainy season in Dubai. Petra usually gets more rain in January than Dubai. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Dubai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Petra is generally cooler than Dubai. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 15°C (59°F), and Dubai fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Dubai 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Petra or Dubai in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Dubai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
June to August in Dubai is the dry season. In April, Petra usually receives more rain than Dubai. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Dubai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Petra is around the same temperature as Dubai in the spring. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 25°C (76°F) in April, and Dubai fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Dubai 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Dubai and Petra
| Petra | Dubai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
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.