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

Should you visit Arusha or New York City?

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 New York City 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 New York City?

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.

New York City

The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, New York City or Arusha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Arusha Prices
    Tanzania Prices
    New York City Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Arusha $189
    New York City $363

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. 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 New York City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    New York City $175
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Arusha and New York City

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or New York City? 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 New York City


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 New York City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    New York City $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:


  • Subway
    $4.50
  • Taxi Ride
    $8.00
  • Subway
    $2.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City

Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Newark Airport to Times Square New York: $150
  • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry Transfers: $64
  • Skip the line One World Observatory Private Tour with Transfers: $296
  • Shared transfer Newark Airport to Manhattan: $30
  • Private Transfer: Manhattan to JFK, LGA or EWR by Sedan or SUV: $129
  • Private Transfer: Manhattan to Cruise Port by Sedan or SUV: $80
  • Private Transfer in New York City (JFK/LGA) Airport/Home/Hotel/Work: $180
  • Private Transfer from or to New York to EWR Airport or vice versa: $280
  • Private Transfer from Newark Int Airport (EWR) to Manhattan Port: $46
  • Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Cape Liberty Port: $42
  • Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Brooklyn Port: $62
  • Private Transfer from New York City Hotels to Manhattan Port: $46

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or New York City?

Prices for flights to both New York City 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
    New York City $87
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 New York City

For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Gelato
    $7.50
  • Snacks for Two at Yankees Game
    $34
  • Coffee
    $6.53
  • Smoothie
    $6.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City

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

  • New York Union Square Sweetest Food Tour: Choose Your Own Donuts: $35
  • The Greenwich Village Food Tour: $39
  • New York Pizza and Rats Tour: $44
  • Private Pizza Experience (5 tastings) in Manhattan: $45
  • Brooklyn's must-try Pizza Crawl experience (5 top rated slices!): $46
  • Central Park Cafe: Scenic Lunch & Dinner Experience in NYC: $50
  • Lower East Side Food Tour: Iconic Eats & NYC History Walking Tour: $51
  • Greenwich Village Pizza Tour 7 Tastings and Local Legends: $53
  • NYC Chinatown & Little Italy Food Tour Full Portions, Great Value: $59
  • Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Food Tour: Local Eats & Iconic Views: $59
  • Homemade Pizza Party in NYC: $63
  • New York City's Best Pizza tour - You be the judge!: $68

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    New York City $180

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 New York City

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Comedy Show Tickets
    $56
  • City Map
    $8.00
  • Broadway Musical
    $111
  • Broadway Show Program
    $10
  • Magazine
    $6.99

Tours and Activities in New York City

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

  • #1 Rated NYC Chinatown Food and History Walking Tour with FNYT: $99
  • "International Express" 7 Train Ultimate Authentic NYC Experience: $55
  • 1 Day New York Tour from Baltimore: $269
  • 1 Hour Live Interactive Driving Virtual Tour of Manhattan: $200
  • 1 Hour Private Guided Tour: $50
  • 1 or 2 hour Central Park Pedicab Tour.: $49
  • 1-Day New York City Tour: Liberty Cruise & One World Observatory: $168
  • 1-Day New York Highlight Tour: $130
  • 1-Day New York In-Depth Tour: $130
  • 1-Day New York Insider Tour: $180
  • 1-Day Tour to Boston from New York: $104
  • 10+ stops Central Park Pedicab Tour Customizable Landmarks: $250

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.


Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    New York City $29

Sample the Local Flavors in New York City

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:

  • Brooklyn Distillery Tour: $22
  • NYC Pub Crawl Tour: $30
  • Top Shelf Distillery Tour: $33
  • Wicked City Burlesque Show Admission: $33
  • NYC Pub Crawl: Midtown/Times Square VIP Access & Prof Photos: $45
  • Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
  • Greenwich Village Piano Bar Crawl: $50
  • Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
  • East Village Gangster Ghost Pub Crawl: $64
  • Fun Cookie Decorating Class at a Local Brewery in Brooklyn: $75
  • Underground Brooklyn Walking Brewery Tour: $99
  • New York Beer and Brewery tour: $150


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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or New York City?

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