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

Should you visit Arusha or Kaunas?

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 Kaunas 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 Kaunas?

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.

Kaunas

Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania, located at the country's center. It is a city of medieval history as well as modern entertainment with castle ruins, churches, and cathedrals, as well as galleries, museums, theatres, and outdoor recreation.

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 Lithuania, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius.


Which place is cheaper, Kaunas 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 Kaunas is $136. 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 Kaunas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Kaunas $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Kaunas $98
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Kaunas

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Kaunas? 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 Kaunas


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 Kaunas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Kaunas $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

  • Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
  • Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
  • Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport Transfers with Private Day Tours: $60
  • Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
  • Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $130

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kaunas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kaunas:

  • CO2-Offset Private Transfer from Kaunas to Kaunas Airport KUN: $61
  • CO2-Offset Departure Transfer Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport KUN: $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Kaunas?

Prices for flights to both Kaunas 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
    Kaunas $68
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:

  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
  • Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
  • Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $195

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Kaunas $21

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • Guided Arusha town tour with market visit,shopping, and city walk: $17
  • Arusha Guided Tour: Culture, History, Markets& Hidden Gems: $19
  • Arusha's Soul: A Guided Walking & Drive City Tour. Learn & Live.: $21
  • Arusha Waterfalls,Coffee farm Tour & Swing(all inclusive): $30
  • Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
  • Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $30
  • Sunset Tour in Arusha with Scenic Views of Mountain: $35
  • Private Local Market Tour in Tengeru: $35
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Mountain Bike Tour of the Foothills of Mount Meru: $40
  • Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Arusha: $50
  • 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50

Tours and Activities in Kaunas

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

  • Best of A Modernism and Medieval History Self Guided tour: $15
  • Kaunas : Sightseeing Walking Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $117
  • Kaunas Old Town : Private Ghost Tour: $299
  • Kaunas Old Town tour + IX Fort Museum (BONUS): $59
  • Kaunas Private Tour: Love Stories: $477
  • Kaunas Private Tour: Love Stories: $299
  • Kaunas to Hill of Crosses via Šiluva and Tytuvėnai Private Tour: $259
  • Kaunas to Zemaitija National Park Nature and Heritage Tour: $259
  • Kaunas, Lithuania 2-Hour Sightseeing Tour: $176
  • 1 day Self-Guided Bike Tour with Train Tickets: $69
  • Old Town Private Ghost Tour: $477
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $10
    Kaunas $18


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

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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Kaunas?

Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Kaunas, 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.