Which place is cheaper, Lake Nakuru or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arusha vs. Lake Nakuru for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
Jump to 
Should you visit Arusha or Lake Nakuru?
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 Lake Nakuru 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 Lake Nakuru?
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.
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's 23 National Parks, also qualifying as one of the two Premium Parks in the country. Located in central Kenya, about 90 miles west of Nairobi, the area encompasses a large lake as well as the surrounding wooded grasslands. A naturalist's paradise, Lake Nakuru is home to wildlife like flamingos, other water birds, and the black and white rhinoceros.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $181Lake Nakuru $102
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $181, while the average daily cost in Lake Nakuru is $102. 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 Lake Nakuru in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $132Lake Nakuru $40
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $264Lake Nakuru $80
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Lake Nakuru
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Lake Nakuru? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Lake Nakuru $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $130
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $851
- Private Arrival Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi City: $34
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $100
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer | Pick Up & Drop up | With BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD: $100
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
- Kilimanjaro Airport Return Transfers to and From Arusha Hotels: $147
- Tanzanite Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $40
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Lake Nakuru?
Prices for flights to both Lake Nakuru 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 dayArusha $25Lake Nakuru $36
Typical Food prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.20
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: $40
- Evening Hiking to Oljoro Hills Hunting the Sunset & Maasai Lamb Berbeque Dinner: $70
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $46Lake Nakuru $32
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Days Safari Tour in Tarangire and Ngorongoro: $383
- 3 Days Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Group Tour: $1,441
- 3 Days Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro Joining Group Safari Tour Tanzania : $761
- 3 days Group tour Tarangire, Ngorongoro & lake manyara park: $800
- 4 Days Big 5 Tour & Cultural Experience: $1,700
- 4 days Best experience Kilimanjaro Hike, Serengeti &Ngorongoro : $859
- 5 Days Kilimanjaro hiking Tours via Marangu Route | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD: $2,325
- 5-Day Group Tour Mid Range: $2,300
- 5-Day Private Classic Safari Tour of Ngorongoro and Serengeti: $3,000
- 5-Days Private Tanzania Safari Tour: $2,150
- 6-Day Unforgettable Tour in Tanzania: $1,462
- 7 Days Tour Northern Tanzania Safari: : $2,724
Tours and Activities in Lake Nakuru
For Lake Nakuru, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Lake Nakuru National Park Day Tour from Nairobi: $286
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $11Lake Nakuru $6.77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Lake Nakuru, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Lake Nakuru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lake Nakuru would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Nakuru 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 Lake Nakuru.
Related Articles for Arusha
Related Articles for Lake Nakuru
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.
More City Comparisons
Zanzibar vs. ArushaZanzibar vs. Lake Nakuru
Serengeti National Park vs. Arusha
Serengeti National Park vs. Lake Nakuru
Moshi vs. Arusha
Moshi vs. Lake Nakuru
Dar es Salaam vs. Arusha
Dar es Salaam vs. Lake Nakuru
Arusha vs. Tsavo National Park
Arusha vs. Nairobi
Arusha vs. Mombasa
Arusha vs. Masai Mara
Arusha vs. Kampala
Arusha vs. Jinja
Arusha vs. Entebbe
Arusha vs. Addis Ababa
Arusha vs. Dahab
Arusha vs. Aswan
Arusha vs. Luxor
Arusha vs. Cairo
Arusha vs. Alexandria
Arusha vs. Soweto
Arusha vs. Pretoria
Arusha vs. Port Elizabeth
Arusha vs. Kruger National Park
Arusha vs. Johannesburg
Arusha vs. Durban
Arusha vs. Drakensberg
Pin This Page
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.