Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Arusha or Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $171Johannesburg $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $171, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $97. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $125Johannesburg $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $250Johannesburg $112
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Johannesburg $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer | Pick Up & Drop up | With BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD: $100
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $133
- Kilimanjaro Airport Return Transfers to and From Arusha Hotels: $147
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Wheel Chair Accessible Airport Transfers Around Johannesburg: $49
- Transfers Between OR Tambo and Pilanesburg : $179
- Transfer O R Tambo Airport to Sandton: $110
- Tour operator. airport and hotels transfers chauffeur and safari tours services.: $31
- Suncity Transfer: $196
- South Africa Airport Transfer, Johannesburg Guided day Tour: $134
- Shuttle and Transfer Services in Johannesburg: $84
- Shuttle Transfer from Johannesburg Airport to Hazyview: $67
- Private executive transfer to sun city or airport/hotels : $121
- Private Van Airport Transfers : Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria: $108
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Sedan Car: $65
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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 $23Johannesburg $17
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:
- Cooking and Sewing & Jewelry Workshops in Arusha: $27
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $50
- Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $70
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $75
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $79
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $101
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $101
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44Johannesburg $21
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Coffee Tourism & Banana Farms Experience: $20
- ARUSHA LANDMARK CITY TOUR by walking : $25
- Tanzanite experience tour - Tanzanite shopping in Arusha: $35
- Private Local Market Tour in Tengeru: $35
- Private Meru Coffee Tour in Nkoaranga: $35
- Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
- Hidden Arusha Waterfall, Coffee & Village Tour (All-Inclusive): $40
- Mountain Bike Tour of the Foothills of Mount Meru: $40
- Organic Coffee Tour and Local Food Experience in Arusha: $45
- Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Arusha : $45
- 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50
- Arusha city tour and Pickup: $55
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $230
- Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $124
- Private Full Day Johannesburg Historical Tour : $196
- Rhino and Lion Park Safari Tour : $99
- Soweto half day guided tour.Pick up and drop off: $50
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $54
- 10 Days Overland Tour-Johannesburg and Cape Town: $2,736
- 15 Days Johannesburg, Kruger National Park – Cape Town Tour: $4,104
- 3 Day Kruger National Park Private Tour from Johannesburg: $870
- 3 Days 2 Nights Panorama Tour & Kruger National park Safari: $843
- 4-Days Overnight Experience in The Panorama Route & Safari: $1,757
- 6 Days Johannesburg and Kruger National Park Tour: $1,641
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10Johannesburg $4.82
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.47
- Wine Tasting: $11
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $116
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Johannesburg, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Johannesburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Johannesburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Johannesburg, 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.