A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arusha vs. Athens for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arusha or Athens?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Athens can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Arusha or Athens?

Arusha

Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.

Athens

Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece.


Which place is cheaper, Athens or Arusha?

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 Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in Athens is $176. 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 Arusha and Athens in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Athens $72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Athens $144
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Athens

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Athens? 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 Arusha


Hotels in Athens


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: Arusha Hotel Prices and Athens Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Athens $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

  • Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $149
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Private Transfer from Arusha to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $46
  • Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:


  • Airport Bus for Two
    $7.29
  • Metro
    $1.71
  • Metro
    $2.28
  • Metro from Airport to City Center
    $9.11
  • Taxi from Airport
    $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens

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

  • VipTransfer From /To Athens Airport - Lavrio Port: $218
  • VIP Ferry Ticket From Piraeus Port To Santorini & Private Transfer Included: $262
  • Transfers and Guided Tours in all over Greece, sightseeing and Private hire!!: $103
  • Transfer from or to Athens Airport: $97
  • Transfer from Piraeus port to Athens Airport and Vice Versa 22:30PM - 06:29AM: $160
  • Transfer from Athens/Pireaus/ATH Airport/Suburbs to Mati/Marathon/Nea Makri: $172
  • Transfer from Athens-Pireaus-Athens Airport to Corinth-Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi: $229
  • Transfer from Athens City Center to Athens Airport (ATH): $50
  • Transfer from Athens Airport to Vouliagmeni: $109
  • Transfer Nea Peramos: $172
  • Transfer Athens Airport to Piraeus Port or Cruise Terminal: $94
  • Transfer ATHENS CITY CENTER to/from ATHENS COAST: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Athens?

Prices for flights to both Athens and Arusha 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
    Arusha $40
    Athens $73
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.09

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

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

  • Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $43
  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
  • Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $75
  • Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $187

Typical Food Prices in Athens

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


  • Ice cream
    $3.42
  • Souvlaki
    $2.51

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens

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

  • Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $48
  • Greek Orange Pie (Portokalopita) Cooking Workshop in Athens: $57
  • Athens's original vegan food tour: $64
  • Cooking Class & Meal at a Roof Garden in Athens: $68
  • Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $68
  • Athens Small Group Food Tour with Private Lunch: $72
  • Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $74
  • Athens Private Food Tour:Eat like a Greek! Seafood& Wine included: $80
  • Taste of Athens Small-Group Food Tour: $80
  • Around Greece in 5 Dishes: Dinner, Theater & Music: $82
  • Small Group Greek Traditional Food Tour in Athens 26+ Tastings: $84
  • Cook Like a Greek in Athens Hands On Cooking Class with Wine: $87

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Athens $41

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • 1 Day trip to Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour: $127
  • 1 day trip Materuni Waterfall, Village & Coffee Walking Tour: $127
  • 1-Day Trip Tarangire N.P Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari: $270
  • Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
  • Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Arusha City Tour with Local Culture and Food Markets: $41
  • Arusha City Walking Tour: Markets, Culture & Hotel Pickup: $15
  • Arusha City town tour: $101
  • Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
  • Arusha Guided City Tour: Culture, History and Markets with Pickup: $17
  • Arusha Mountain Village and Coffee Tour: $24

Tours and Activities in Athens

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

  • "A Must-See" Anc. Epidaurus, Mycenae & Nafplion Premium Full Day Tour By Locals: $206
  • "All Day Tour Athens & Corinth:Highlights & Path of Apostle Paul": $295
  • "Athens Highlights Tour : Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and more.": $171
  • "Athens Night Experience - 4Hours": $163
  • "Athens in a Day: A Full-Day Tour of the City’s Top Highlights": $249
  • "Athens in a Glimpse with Cruise Port Pickup & Drop-Off": $171
  • "Delphi Full-Day Tour: Ancient Oracle and the Heart of the Earth": $295
  • "Private City Tour of Athens": $171
  • "Spetses in a Day from Athens : A Cosmopolitan Island Experience”: $295
  • "St. Paul’s Church & Greek Olive Oil Experience”: $195
  • "Tour of Ancient Corinth:Follow in the footsteps of Apostle Paul": $195
  • 1 Day Parnitha Athens Private Hiking Tour with Hotel Pickup: $172

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Athens $26

Sample the Local Flavors in Athens

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:

  • The Original Athens Pub Crawl: $14
  • Experience Ouzo Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $27
  • Athens Exclusive Hellenic Wine Tasting Experience at Brettos: $36
  • Athens Rooftop Pub Crawl w/ Acropolis Views & Party: $40
  • Athens Small Group Wine Tasting with a Sommelier: $52
  • Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting: $56
  • Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $56
  • Athens Wine Tasting and Wine tour at with Castle Visit: $56
  • Athens Boutique Wine Tasting: $77
  • Athens Small-Group Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $103
  • 3-Hour Shared Greek Wine Tasting: $103
  • Athens Winery Tour with Wine Museum Entrance & Wine Tasting: $109


When comparing the travel costs between Arusha and Athens, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Arusha is in Africa and Athens is in Europe, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Athens?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Athens, 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.