Which place is cheaper, Auckland or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Arusha or Auckland?
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 Auckland 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 Auckland?
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.
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesAuckland Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $188Auckland $169
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $188, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $169. 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 Auckland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $125Auckland $98
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $250Auckland $196
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Auckland
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Auckland? 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: Arusha Hotel Prices and Auckland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Auckland $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $149
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
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Bus from Airport$9.41
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Airport Shuttle$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [PRIVATE] Airport Transfer from/to Auckland Airport: $108
- Waitomo Caves / Return Transfer: $164
- VIP / Premium Airport Transfers: $105
- Transfer Service: Auckland to Rotorua or Rotorua to Auckland: $179
- Seamless Auckland Airport Transfers to Auckland CBD: $90
- Rotorua to Auckland - Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Caves: $175
- Private Transfer from Auckland Cruise Port to Auckland: $53
- Private Transfer from Auckland City to Auckland Cruise Port: $53
- Private Transfer from Auckland Airport /City to Rotorua: $299
- Private Transfer From Auckland City To Auckland Airport Oaks: $81
- Private Transfer From Auckland Airport Oaks To Auckland City: $81
- Private One-Way Transfer: Auckland Airport to Auckland City Hotel: $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Auckland?
Prices for flights to both Auckland 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
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Food Meals for one dayArusha $40Auckland $45
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.08
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: $45
- Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $75
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$4.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $93
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $101
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $102
- Auckland Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $116
- Auckland Downtown Food Tour with 5 Locals Favorite Dishes: $129
- Ponsonby Road Food Tour in Auckland: $140
- Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $392
- Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience: $519
- From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour: $550
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44Auckland $27
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Day Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour and Chemka Hot Spring: $100
- Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
- Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
- Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
- Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140
- Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
- Arusha Guided Tour: Culture, History, Markets&Hidden Gems+pickup: $19
- Arusha National Park Guided Day Tour From Arusha: $290
- Arusha National Park Private Day Safari &Walking Tour with Ranger: $270
- Arusha Nightlife Tour: $60
- Arusha Private City Tour: $70
- Arusha Town Tour: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$32
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Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$119
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "City of Sails" highlights - private tour with German tour guide: $219
- 2-Hour Muriwai Beach Horse Trek Experience: $161
- 2025 Award Winning: Auckland City Highlights Half Day Tour: $96
- 24 day Greatest Of All Tours Small Group Tour: $3,447
- 6 Hours Sightseeing Tour in Auckland: $173
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Auckland's Hidden Stories: $15
- Half-Day CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR - Mt.Eden, Tamaki Dr: $86
- Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland: $120
- Amazing Auckland City Half Day Guided Tour: $107
- America's Cup Sailing Experience on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour: $126
- America’s Cup 2-Hour Sailing Experience Waitemata Harbour: $122
- Auckland Airport To Ports Of Auckland Private Highlights Tour: $239
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10Auckland $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Auckland Coastal Brewery Kayak Tour: $71
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting: $110
- Muriwai GANNET Colony & Wine Tasting - Half Day Tour Ex Auckland: $117
- Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $119
- Ultimate Auckland Experience Full Day Tour with Brewery Lunch: $149
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $159
- Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue: $168
- Piha Waitakere Rainforest Wine Tour from Auckland: $176
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $180
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $183
- City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach: $217
- Auckland City Tour & Kumeu Wine Country Includes Wine Tastings & Lunch: $239
When comparing the travel costs between Arusha and Auckland, 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 Auckland is in Pacific, 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 Auckland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Auckland?
Auckland has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Auckland, 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.