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

Should you visit Arusha or Bali?

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 Bali 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 Bali?

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.

Bali

Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.

Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Bali 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 Bali is $79. 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 Bali in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Bali $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Bali $74
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Bali

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Bali? 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 Bali


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 Bali Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Bali $8.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $2.79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:

  • West Beach Nusa Penida Tour with Speedboat Transfer from Sanur: $99
  • Ubud Highlight Private Tour with Transfer: $49
  • Ride Bali ATV Ticket And Transfer: $29
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport Jimbaran and Uluwatu: $16
  • Private Bali Transfer & Costumize Day trip: $18
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Bali Airport to Jimbaran and Uluwatu Hotel: $16
  • Paragliding In Bali With Private Hotel Transfer: $140
  • Luxury Bali Private Airport Transfer Alphard: $113
  • LuxMe Bali Four Hands massage with Hotel Transfer: $58
  • Lombok : private Transfer from bangsal port to kuta lombok: $38
  • Horse Riding on the Black Sand Beach and Free Hotel Transfers: $74
  • Fast Boat Transfers between Bali and Lombok: $44

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Bali?

Prices for flights to both Bali 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
    Bali $32
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 Bali

Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:


  • Coffee
    $1.12
  • Lunch for Two
    $12
  • Bali Cafe for Two
    $24
  • Lunch for Two
    $7.27
  • Lunch for 2
    $8.05
  • Dinner for 2
    $8.83

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.

  • Jimbaran Sunset Beachfront Seafood Dinner for 2: $16
  • Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset: $30
  • Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
  • Amazing Private Tour-Uluwatu Kecak Dance and Romantic Seafood Dinner: $33
  • Kecak Fire Dance with Uluwatu Sunset Tour Dinner Jimbaran Beach: $34
  • Bali Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset jimbaran Beach: $36
  • Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $41
  • Nusa Dua: Bali Cooking Class Spice Herb Garden Visit-Free Pick Up: $45
  • Bali's Best Sunset: Uluwatu Kecak Dance & Dinner Jimbaran Beach: $50
  • Spice Garden, Jamu & Cooking Class in Bali Village: $55
  • Kekeb Cooking Class at Nusa Dua: $55
  • Private Uluwatu Sunset: 2 Beaches, Kecak Dance & Seafood Dinner: $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Bali $9.75

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • Best Arusha City Tour: $15
  • Arusha City Walking Tour: Markets, Culture & Hotel Pickup: $15
  • Personalized Arusha City Tour Culture History and Market: $20
  • Coffee Tourism & Banana Farms Experience: $20
  • Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
  • Arusha Mountain Village and Coffee Tour: $24
  • Arusha City Tour with Local Culture and Food Markets: $25
  • Arusha Town Tour: $30
  • Private Meru Coffee Tour in Nkoaranga: $35
  • Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Tanzanite Shopping Experience in Arusha: $45

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:


  • Spa for Two
    $49
  • Snorkelling Trip
    $11
  • Cooking School
    $25

Tours and Activities in Bali

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:

  • 3-Days Lombok,Gili island Tour Hopping around departure from Bali island: $300
  • 5 Hours Bali Blue Lagoon Snorkeling Tour Including Tanjung Jepun: $59
  • 6 Hour Car Charter Tour of Uluwatu Temple: $45
  • ATV Jungle Adventure with Waterfalls and Tunnel Ride: $43
  • Adventure Amazing ATV Quad Bike with Waterfall include Lunch: $63
  • Adventure Rafting Journey With Us! And Ubud Tours: $123
  • All-Inclusive: Besakih Temple & Ancient Village Experience: $77
  • Amazing Private Tour: Tukad Cepung Waterfall + 5 tourist objects: $63
  • Amazing Private Tours: Dolphins Lovina and Gitgit Waterfall include Lunch: $85
  • Amazing Rafting adventure on the Telaga Waja white water Bali include breakfast: $51
  • Bali : Batik Workshop & Ubud Experience - Private All Inclusive: $60
  • Bali : Instagrams Tour Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga- Tukad Cepung , Tibumana Waterfall: $43

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Bali $2.88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Bali, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Bali is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha than you might in Bali.

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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Bali?

Bali has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Bali, 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.