Which place is cheaper, Riga 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 Riga?
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 Riga 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 Riga?
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.
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesRiga Prices
Latvia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $189Riga $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in Riga is $142. 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 Riga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $126Riga $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $252Riga $120
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Riga
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Riga? 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 Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Riga $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport Transfers with Private Day Tours: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $294
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga center to Airport: $53
- Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga Old city: $53
- 4x4 Off-Road Adventure with Hotel Transfers: $258
- Riga Limo Airport Transfer: $176
- Riga Limo Airport Transfer: $183
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $163
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga City to Riga Airport (RIX) - Private Transfer.: $75
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $43
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $45
- Riga Airport Transfer: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Riga?
Prices for flights to both Riga 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 $40Riga $66
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 Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch$6.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $71
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $129
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $129
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $249
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44Riga $16
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Arusha Guided Walking City Tour: Culture, History & Local Markets: $19
- Arusha's Soul: A Guided Walking & Drive City Tour. Learn & Live.: $21
- Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $30
- Arusha Waterfalls,Coffee farm Tour & Swing(all inclusive): $30
- Sunset Tour in Arusha with Scenic Views of Mountain: $35
- Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
- Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
- Mountain Bike Tour of the Foothills of Mount Meru: $40
- Banana Bliss Plantation Coffee Medicinal and Waterfall Tour: $45
- Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Arusha: $50
- Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
- Coffee tour and Buffet Lunch with Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Legends and Secret of Riga's Old Town: $88
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $88
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $94
- 5,5 Hour Small Group Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $89
- ATV Quad guided off road tour: $201
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $80
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $80
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Bachelorette Party Adventure's Organization: $46
- Best of Riga Private Walking Tour: $477
- Bobsleigh - Truly Unique Winter Adventure!: $172
- Deluxe Riga Tour from Cruise Port: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10Riga $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $36
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Latvian Brewery Visit and Beer Tasting: $53
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $76
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
- Riga Sip and Paint Experience with Latvian Wine Tasting: $101
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Riga, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Riga 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 Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga 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 Riga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Riga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Riga?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Riga, 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.