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

Should you visit Arusha or London?

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 London 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 London?

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.

London

The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, and The Best Adventure Tours to United Kingdom.


Which place is cheaper, London 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 London is $286. 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 London in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    London $165
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    London $330
Compare Hotels in Arusha and London

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or London? 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 London


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 London Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    London $34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in London

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:


  • Taxi Ride
    $19
  • Heathrow Express
    $24
  • Luggage Storage
    $11
  • London Map
    $1.70
  • Oyster Card
    $47
  • Train to Gatwick Airport (2)
    $29
  • Oyster Card
    $36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in London

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

  • Windsor Castle to/from Central London | Private Transfers: $74
  • Warner Bros. Studios to Central London - Private Transfers: $135
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour London The Making of Harry Potter with return transfers: $133
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in London HTL-APT (LHR): $141
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in London APT-HTL (LHR): $141
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in London HTL - APT (LGW,STN): $162
  • Transfer to/from London Gatwick Airport to Dover Cruise Port: $487
  • Transfer to/ from London Heathrow Airport to Central London: $221
  • Transfer to/ from Dover Cruise port to Central London: $504
  • Transfer from London to Gatwick Airport: $183
  • Transfer from Heathrow Airport to London or London to Heathrow: $161
  • Transfer from Heathrow Airport to London hotel on private car: $121

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or London?

Prices for flights to both London 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
    London $79
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

Typical Food Prices in London

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:


  • Lunch at Starbucks
    $17
  • Tea
    $7.93
  • Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
    $52
  • Morning Tea
    $8.39
  • Pastry
    $6.61
  • Sushi Dinner for One
    $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London

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

  • London Food Tour of Soho & Covent Garden: $19
  • Hard Rock Cafe London Old Park Lane with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $41
  • Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $43
  • London Thames Dining Cruise: Lunch, Afternoon Tea or Dinner: $49
  • Pizza Making Masterclass: $61
  • The English Food You Don't Expect Food Tour of London: $67
  • Italian Pizza Dinner & Comedy Show Experience, Covent Garden: $70
  • London Festive Thames Cruise with Festive Afternoon Tea or Dinner: $74
  • French Cuisine Dinner & Comedy Show Experience, Covent Garden: $86
  • London Borough Market Sweet Treats, Donuts, & Tea Food Tour: $89
  • London Sweet Treats Food Tour: Covent Garden & West End: $89
  • Authentic Japanese Cooking Class in North London Home: $92

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    London $43

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • 1 Day trip to Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour: $127
  • 1 day trip Materuni Waterfall, Village & Coffee Walking Tour: $127
  • 1-Day Trip Tarangire N.P Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari: $270
  • Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
  • Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Arusha City Tour with Local Culture and Food Markets: $41
  • Arusha City Walking Tour: Markets, Culture & Hotel Pickup: $15
  • Arusha City town tour: $101
  • Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
  • Arusha Guided City Tour: Culture, History and Markets with Pickup: $17
  • Arusha Mountain Village and Coffee Tour: $24

Typical Entertainment Prices in London

For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Two Tickets to a Concert
    $109
  • London Symphony Orchestra
    $45
  • London Pass
    $62
  • Comedy Show
    $11

Tours and Activities in London

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.

  • 1h Express Walking Tour Big Ben to Buckingham Palace: $27
  • 2 Hours London Guided Walking Tour: $35
  • 2 Hours Rock and Roll Historical Walking Tour in London: $66
  • 2 hour British Museum Highlights Private Guided Tour: $256
  • 2 hour Walking Tour in Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage in London: $27
  • 3 Hour Guided Private Walking Tour: The Best of London: $236
  • 3 Hours Historic Pub Experience in London: $80
  • 3 Locks Brewing Company Tour and Tasting Experience in Camden: $34
  • 3-Hour Private Guided Walking Tour of London: $297
  • 4 Hours Classic London Tour in a Private Vehicle: $243
  • 4-Hour London Main Attractions and Tourist Sights Tour: $201
  • 5KM London Parks Running Tour: $27

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    London $20

Sample the Local Flavors in London

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:

  • London's Covent Garden Historic Pub Tour: $1.20
  • 1 Big Night Out Weekday Pub Crawl: $26
  • The Jack the Ripper Pub Tour - Taverns and Dark Tales: $27
  • Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery Tour and Cocktail: $30
  • The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl: $34
  • Sipsmith Distillery Tour and Complimentary Tasting: $40
  • Potter Pub Tour for Muggles: London: $43
  • Wine Tasting London Bus Tour: $56
  • London Soho Rock and Roll Pub Tour with Guide: $80
  • Pub Crawl and Sing along London Experience: $80
  • London Historical Pub Tour with Pilgrims and Pirates: $80
  • Soho Rock and Roll Pub Tour: $80


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and London, we can see that London 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 London 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London 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 London Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or London?

London has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and London, 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.