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

Should you visit Arusha or Entebbe?

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 Entebbe 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 Entebbe?

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.

Entebbe

Entebbe is a large city located in Central Uganda. It is about thirty kilometers from the capital city of Uganda, which is Kampala. Lake Victoria, a prominent body of water, is very close to Entebbe as well. Today, the population of Entebbe is over 69,000 people. In Europe, Entebbe is known for its airport, which was once the site of a major hostage situation led by the German and Palestinian militia, back in 1976. Soldiers from the Israeli army freed the hostages in a massive rescue mission. Alternatively, when Queen Elizabeth II heard of her father's death and that she had become the queen, she was at this airport and had to fly from there back to England at once.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Uganda, and The Best 3-Day Tours in Uganda.


Which place is cheaper, Entebbe or Arusha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $165, while the average daily cost in Entebbe is $95. 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 Entebbe in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $121
    Entebbe $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $242
    Entebbe $86
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Entebbe

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Entebbe? 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 Entebbe


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 Entebbe Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $12
    Entebbe $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

  • Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
  • Tanzanite Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $40
  • Airport transfer: $45
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
  • Airport Transfers, Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro JRO: $70
  • Transfer Around Moshi and Arusha in Tanzania: $75
  • Transfer from Arusha to Karatu: $110
  • Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $136

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Entebbe

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Entebbe:

  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $72
  • Entebbe : Airport Transfer: $60
  • ENTEBBE AIRPORT: Executive Airport Transfer Package: $95

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Entebbe?

Prices for flights to both Entebbe 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 $22
    Entebbe $34
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

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


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.01

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

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

  • Cooking and Sewing & Jewelry Workshops in Arusha: $33
  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
  • Guided walking city tour& traditional cooking lesson: $78
  • Africa health cuisine food tour: $111

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $42
    Entebbe $36

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • Charity Tour of SATINO Daycare & Preschool: $20
  • Coffee Tourism & Banana Farms Experience: $20
  • Town tour: $25
  • Arusha City Walking Tour: $25
  • Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $25
  • Arusha city & town walking tour History Cultural souvenir Museum : $25
  • Coffee making tour in Arusha: $28
  • City Sightseeing Walking Tour. (with local guides): $29
  • Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
  • Tanzanite experience tour - Tanzanite shopping in Arusha: $35
  • Arusha City: Children's Homes Visit & Donation Tour.: $36
  • Sunset Tour in Arusha: $36

Tours and Activities in Entebbe

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

  • 1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Uganda: $190
  • 1 Day Mabamba Boat cruise and Entebbe Zoo Visit: $344
  • 1-Day Best Of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Trekking Tour: $350
  • 1-Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $50
  • 1-Day Mabamba Shoebill Birding Tour in Lake Victoria Entebbe: $260
  • 10 Days Murhison Kibale Queen Elizabeth NP & Bwindi NP Tour: $2,980
  • 15-Day Primates and wildlife safari Adventure: $8,000
  • 16 Days Primate, Game and Cultural Tour: $8,541
  • 3 Days Gorilla Tracking Bwindi Forest Tour: $1,820
  • 3day bwindi Gorilla tracking and Batwa experience: $2,200
  • 4 Day Chimpanzee Tracking Tour from Entebbe: $3,533
  • 4 Day Gorilla Experience Tour from Entebbe: $4,961

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $10
    Entebbe $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Entebbe, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Entebbe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Entebbe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Entebbe 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 Entebbe.

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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Entebbe?

Arusha has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Entebbe. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Entebbe, 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.