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

Should you visit Arusha or Rome?

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 Rome 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 Rome?

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.

Rome

Rome is the kind of city that refuses to stay in the past, even though history is everywhere you look. Ancient ruins rise beside buzzing cafes, scooters zip past Renaissance palaces, and quiet cobblestone lanes suddenly open onto grand piazzas filled with fountains, churches, and street performers. It is a city of layers: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, neighborhood trattorias, stylish boutiques, and late-night gelato walks all woven together into one unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the art, the food, the history, or the simple pleasure of wandering without a plan, Rome has a way of making every day feel like a discovery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Rome or Arusha?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $188, while the average daily cost in Rome is $232. 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 Rome in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $125
    Rome $101
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $250
    Rome $202
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Rome

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Rome? 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 Rome


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 Rome Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Rome $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

  • Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
  • Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport Transfers: $160
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $149

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:


  • Metro Ride (for Two)
    $2.25
  • Train to the Airport
    $17
  • Taxi to Airport
    $51
  • Bicycle Rental (Full Day)
    $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:

  • VIP Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome or Vice Versa: $68
  • VIP Experience Private Transfer from the Civitavecchia Port to Rome: $188
  • VIP Experience Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome: $108
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Rome APT-HTL (CIA): $138
  • Transfers from Fiumicino airport: $80
  • Transfers from Civitavecchia to Fiumicino/Rome: $279
  • Transfers From Fiumicino to Terracina: $161
  • Transfers Ciampino airport To Rome: $48
  • Transfer to Fiumicino/Ciampino Airport from Rome city center: $54
  • Transfer service from Fiumicino Airport to Rome 4 - 8 passengers: $148
  • Transfer from/to train stations in Rome 1 - 3 passengers: $80
  • Transfer from and to Airport - from and to Port - from and to hotel: $171

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Rome?

Prices for flights to both Rome 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
    Rome $94
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.08

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

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

  • Arusha Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $30
  • 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

Typical Food Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $16
  • 4 Ice Cream Sandwiches
    $3.36
  • Cafe e doce
    $4.49
  • Pizza (Fast Food)
    $2.98
  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    $36
  • Cheese and bread
    $11
  • Espresso
    $2.25
  • Dinner
    $65

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.

  • Pizzas and Piazzas: A Self-Guided Walk of Rome’s Culinary Culture: $20
  • Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $33
  • Rome Cooking: TRASTEVERE Pasta & Tiramisu Making with Fine Wine: $38
  • Rome Pasta & Tiramisu Making Class & Fine Wine by Cooking Italy: $40
  • Rome Pizza & Gelato Class with Wine by Cooking Italy: $40
  • Rome Early Morning Breakfast and Sightseeing Food Tour: $44
  • Rome Pizza Making Class for Families in Trastevere: $44
  • Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Prosecco in Rome: $44
  • Milan Street Food Tour and City Guided Sightseeing: $45
  • Cooking Class 2 Hour Spanish Steps - Fettucine and Tiramisù: $45
  • Authentic Pizza Cooking Class in Rome: $46
  • Rome Street Food Tour: Eat Like a Local: $49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Rome $41

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • Arusha Guided City Tour: Culture, History and Markets with Pickup: $18
  • Arusha City Walking Tour: Markets, Culture & Hotel Pickup: $20
  • Arusha Untold Stories:Walking Tour,Culture,History& Local Life: $20
  • Coffee Tourism & Banana Farms Experience: $20
  • Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
  • Arusha City Tour with Local Guide and Hotel Pickup: $25
  • Arusha Town Tour: $30
  • Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Tanzanite Shopping Experience in Arusha: $45
  • 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50
  • Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Arusha: $50

Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome

Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)
    $77
  • Coliseum Tickets (for Two)
    $37
  • Roma Pass
    $34
  • Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)
    $22
  • Segway Tour
    $84

Tours and Activities in Rome

Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • " Private pantheon tour: Explore Rome's Divine masterpiece": $101
  • 1 Hour Pantheon Tour: A Time Travel Experience in Rome + Ebook: $108
  • 1.5 Hour Electric Golf Cart Rome highlights Tour: $28
  • 2 Hour Guided Walking Tour in Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto: $40
  • 2-Hour Private Shopping Tour in Rome with Personal Stylist - Personal Shopper: $114
  • 3 Hour Instagram Private Tour in Rome with Pickup: $171
  • 3 Hour Private Tour of Rome by Motorcycle: $182
  • 3 Hours Rome Evening Walking Tour - Piazzas and Monuments: $41
  • 3 hour Golf Cart tour of Rome with Gelato: $159
  • 3 hour Rome Highlights and Hidden Corners Walking Tour: $91
  • 3-Hour Chinese Tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill: $79
  • 3-Hour Elite Vatican Museums Guided Group Tour from Rome: $165

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $10
    Rome $20

Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $7.30
  • Pint of Beer
    $7.12
  • Beer
    $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Rome

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:

  • 1 hour exclusive Food & Wine tasting with guide by the Vatican: $9.12
  • Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $22
  • Cabaret and Burlesque Show at Rome: $34
  • Discover Frascati Wine Tasting with a Sommelier and Snacks: $34
  • Rome [4in1] Pasta Making_Tiramisù_Wine Tasting_Secret Cellar: $36
  • Winery Tour, Wine Tasting near Rome with Optional Lunch: $44
  • Wine Tasting and Food Pairing with gelato in Trastevere: $44
  • Rome Premium Wine Tasting: 3, 4, 5 or 6 Wines with Expert Guide: $51
  • Experience Rome Exclusive Wine Tasting in City Center: $55
  • Vatican Wine Tasting Italian Wines e Food with a Sommelier: $56
  • Rome Wine Tasting in Monte dei Cocci | Authentic Lazio Wines: $56
  • Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Underground Cellar in Rome: $62


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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Rome?

Rome has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Rome, 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.