Which place is cheaper, Pretoria or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Arusha or Pretoria?
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 Pretoria 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 Pretoria?
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.
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $176Pretoria $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $176, while the average daily cost in Pretoria is $49. 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 Pretoria in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $129Pretoria $25
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $258Pretoria $50
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Pretoria
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Pretoria? 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 $13Pretoria $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Around Moshi and Arusha in Tanzania: $75
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
- Tanzanite Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $40
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Airport transfer: $45
- Airport Transfers, Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro JRO: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City Private Transfer: $250
- One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $86
- Gauteng, South Africa: Airport transfers, shuttle services: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Pretoria?
Prices for flights to both Pretoria 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 $24Pretoria $15
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.14
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
- Africa health cuisine food tour: $106
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $45Pretoria $14
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Day Tour in Arusha National Park: $279
- Marangu waterfall & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD : $150
- Materuni Waterfalls, Visiting Chagga Village, CoffeeTour Kikuletwa Hotsprings: $100
- Materuni waterfalls coffee tour & Chemka hot springs Day trip: $95
- "Ultimate Tanzanian Adventure: 5-Day Safari Experience": $4,275
- 1 Day Arusha National Park tour: $270
- 1 Day Best Of Tarangire National Park Tour on 4x4 Jeep: $675
- 1-Day Ngorongoro Crater Special Tour: $645
- 1-Day Tarangire National Park Tour: $267
- 12 Days Best Of Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Tour: $8,775
- 12 Days Best Of Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Tour: $8,745
- 1Day Safari Tour Tarangire National Park Join Group: $279
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Pilanesberg National Park Full Day Guided Tour( Safari Experience) : $176
- Pretoria Tour - Voortrekker Monument, Union Buildings, Pretoria : $53
- 1 Night 2 Days eSwatini ( Swaziland Tour): $292
- 2 Hours Bicycle Tour in Soweto(Johannesburg): $88
- 4-Hours Pretoria Private History Tour : $80
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg : $80
- Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre Half-Day Tour from Johannesburg: $192
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $50
- Artistic Half Day Tour of Johannesburg : $83
- City Tour of Pretoria: $133
- Constitutional Hill Highlight Tour: $100
- Cradle of Human Kind & Lion & Rhino Park Tour Full day Tour Private : $182
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $11Pretoria $31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Pretoria, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Pretoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Pretoria?
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Pretoria, 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.