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

Should you visit Arusha or Geneva?

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 Geneva 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 Geneva?

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.

Geneva

Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, and The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland.


Which place is cheaper, Geneva 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 Geneva is $274. 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 Geneva in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Geneva $160
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Geneva $320
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Geneva

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Geneva? 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 Geneva


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 Geneva Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Geneva $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:

  • Welcome to Geneva Private Airport Transfer: $124
  • VIP Transfer: $79
  • Transfer Annecy Airports to Lyon and Geneva: $160
  • Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Montreux.: $454
  • Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Lausanne.: $314
  • Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Interlaken.: $873
  • Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Geneva.: $169
  • Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Chamonix.: $419
  • Private Transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Zermatt.: $873
  • Private Transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Verbier.: $756
  • Private Transfer from Geneva Hotels to Geneva Airport: $155
  • Private Transfer from Geneva Airpot to Geneva City: $140

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Geneva?

Prices for flights to both Geneva 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
    Geneva $100
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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Geneva

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

  • City Tour and Fondue Cooking Class, Swiss Folklore: $221
  • Geneva Food tour : Cheeses, wine, chocolate & fun: $250
  • Food tour with EAT and CHILL TOUR Geneva & Lausanne: $273

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Geneva $33

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • Arusha City Walking Tour: Markets, Culture & Hotel Pickup: $15
  • Best Arusha City Tour: $15
  • Arusha Guided City Tour: Culture, History and Markets with Pickup: $17
  • Arusha Untold Stories:Walking Tour,Culture,History& Local Life: $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 Town Tour: $30
  • Sunset Tour in Arusha with Scenic Views of Mountain: $35
  • Private Local Market Tour in Tengeru: $35
  • Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40

Tours and Activities in Geneva

Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Geneva’s Old Town: $12
  • Annecy - Venice of the Alps - Tour from Geneva: $86
  • Annecy Private Guided Tour from Geneva: $473
  • Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva: $25
  • Award-Winning Geneva Chocolate &Old Town Tour (3h): $123
  • Award-Winning Geneva Chocolate and Old Town Tour with Boat: $125
  • Best Intro Tour of Geneva with a Local: $172
  • Best of Geneva City Tour with optional boat cruise: $56
  • Best of Geneva City Tour: International Area and Old Town: $72
  • Chamonix Day Trip and Geneva City Tour: $189
  • Chamonix Mont-Blanc & E-bike Tour: $249
  • Chamonix Mont-Blanc Full Day Guided Tour: $123

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Geneva $24

Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:

  • Geneva Countryside Wine Tasting At A Castle By E-Bike: $196
  • Swiss Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour in Vaud: $253
  • Lavaux, Chexbres, and Valais Wine Tasting Tour: $450
  • Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting by TukTuk: $537


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

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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Geneva?

Arusha has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Geneva, 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.