Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Arusha or Roatan?
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 Roatan 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
-
Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $201Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $201, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $134Roatan $11
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $268Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Roatan? 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 Roatan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $14Roatan $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
- Kilimanjaro Airport Pick Up & Drop Off | Private Transfer Service: $77
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $161
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
-
Water Taxi$4.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $43Roatan $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)$2.23
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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $47Roatan $26
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: $20
- Discover Arusha's Soul: A Guided Walking City Tour. Learn & Live.: $25
- Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $30
- Arusha Waterfalls,Coffee farm Tour & Swing(all inclusive): $30
- Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
- Hidden Arusha Village, Waterfall & Coffee Tour (All-Inclusive): $40
- Mountain Bike Tour of the Foothills of Mount Meru: $40
- Lake Duluti Luxury Canoe Tour: $50
- Private Walking Tour with Giraffes: $55
- Arusha city tour and Pickup: $55
- Coffee tour and Buffet Lunch with Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
- Materuni Waterfall, Chemka Hot Spring and Traditional Coffee Tour: $60
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Monkeys and sloths, private tour , and beach: $89
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $11Roatan $6.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Roatan, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Roatan is in Central 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Roatan?
Arusha has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Roatan, 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.