A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Addis Ababa vs. Port Elizabeth for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth?

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.

Port Elizabeth

Located on the Indian Ocean coastline of South Africa, Port Elizabeth is a major sea port and tourist destination featuring a pleasant climate, opportunities for water sports, historical landmarks, wildlife areas, and clean beaches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, and The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Port Elizabeth or Addis Ababa?

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 Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Port Elizabeth is $59. 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 Addis Ababa and Port Elizabeth in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Addis Ababa $17
    Port Elizabeth $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Addis Ababa $34
    Port Elizabeth $50
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Port Elizabeth

Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth? 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 Addis Ababa


Hotels in Port Elizabeth


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: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Port Elizabeth Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Addis Ababa $3.10
    Port Elizabeth $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
  • Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
  • Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $23
  • City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
  • Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
  • Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
  • Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $154
  • 4 Hours Addis Airport Transfer with Ethiopian Cultural Tour: $299

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth?

Prices for flights to both Port Elizabeth and Addis Ababa 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
    Addis Ababa $12
    Port Elizabeth $26
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:


  • Slice of Cake
    $0.05

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa

For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $54
  • Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
  • Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
  • Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
  • Addis Ababa Ethiopian cooking class Airport & hotel pick up: $68
  • Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $70
  • Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $75
  • Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $76
  • Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $77
  • Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
  • Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
  • Nightlife Tour with Dinner and Live Music: $99

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Addis Ababa $3.20
    Port Elizabeth $10

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.

  • Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Tour: $30
  • 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
  • Layover in Addis Ababa 5 hours tour: $38
  • Mercato Market & National museum Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $40
  • Sightseeing Walking Tour: $40
  • Open-bus Tour and Cycling: $41
  • Local Food Open Market, City Tours & More.: $42
  • 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
  • Merkato Addis Ababa Guided Tour: $42
  • Mercato Market Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $43
  • Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $45
  • Layover in Addis: Tailored Tours for Transit Passengers: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Addis Ababa $2.64
    Port Elizabeth $2.80

Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:

  • Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
  • Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Port Elizabeth, we can see that Port Elizabeth is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Port Elizabeth would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Port Elizabeth than you might in Addis Ababa.

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


Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Port Elizabeth?

Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Port Elizabeth. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Port Elizabeth, 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.