Which place is cheaper, Reykjavik or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Arusha or Reykjavik?
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 Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik?
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.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesReykjavik Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $189Reykjavik $304
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $304. 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 Reykjavik in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $126Reykjavik $158
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $252Reykjavik $316
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Reykjavik
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Reykjavik? 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 and Reykjavik Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Reykjavik $52
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): $294
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $130
- Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport Transfers with Private Day Tours: $60
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
- Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Reykjavik - Private airport transfer to KEF Airport: $124
- Transfer To & From Blue Lagoon: $112
- The Lava Tunnel Tour with Transfer from Reykjavik: $122
- Sky Lagoon Transfers to/from Keflavík International Airport: $75
- Sky Lagoon Ticket with 7-Step Ritual and Transfers from Reykjavik: $188
- Sky Lagoon Private Transfer : KEF to Sky Lagoon: $117
- Silver Circle Tour & Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $1,386
- Sky Lagoon Admission with Transfer: $257
- Roundtrip Bus Transfer to the Blue Lagoon: $59
- Reykjaböð Hot Springs Entry & Transfer: $151
- Private Transfer within Reykjavik City: $87
- Private Transfer to/from Keflavík Airport (KEF): $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Reykjavik?
Prices for flights to both Reykjavik 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
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Food Meals for one dayArusha $40Reykjavik $59
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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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: $197
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$202
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbor Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $137
- Harbor Cruise with Three Course Dinner from Reykjavik: $139
- Food Tour by locals: $140
- Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $146
- Icelandic Food Tour: $147
- The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $147
- 3-Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
- Food Tour with 6+ Tastings of Icelandic Classics: $154
- The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $171
- Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $171
- Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $241
- Private Vegetarian Reykjavik Food Tour: $241
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44Reykjavik $82
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 Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour and Chemka Hot Spring: $100
- 1-Day Trip Tarangire N.P Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari: $270
- 8-Hour Lake Chala Guided Tour from Moshi or Arusha: $260
- A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro: $160
- Amazing Lake Duluti Day Trip Experience: $70
- Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
- Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
- Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
- Arusha City town tour: $101
- Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$12
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Wine and Spa$33
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Tour : Pick up from Reykjavik (2 persons per ATV): $142
- 1-Hour Helicopter Tour in Iceland: The Geothermal Tour: $553
- 1-Hour Small Group Sightseeing Boat Tour in Vestmannaeyjar: $164
- 2 Hours Whale Watching Express Adventure: $94
- 2-Hour Buggy Adventure Tour out off Reykjavik: $264
- 2-Hour RIB Boat Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik: $195
- 3-Hour Volcanic Springs ATV Adventure From Reykjavik: $339
- 4x4 Reykjavik Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Photographer: $246
- 9pm Whale Watching Cruise in the Arctic Sun: $99
- A Self-Guided Thingvellir National Park Walking Tour: $8.99
- Aurora by Boat Reykjavik Adventure: $85
- Buggy & Golden Circle Full day adventure from Reykjavik: $309
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10Reykjavik $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$9.98
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $48
- Craft Beer and Brewery Tour in Iceland: $49
- Icelandic Bar Crawl Experience: $162
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Reykjavik?
Arusha has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Reykjavik. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Reykjavik, 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.