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

Should you visit Arusha or Vilnius?

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 Vilnius 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 Vilnius?

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.

Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital and largest city in the country of Lithuania. It has a population of more than 500,000 residents and is located in the valley between the Neris River and the Vilnia River in the southeastern part of the country. Visitors come to the city for its beautiful Old Town, impressive architecture, and fascinating culture. In 2009 it was named the European Capital of Culture along with the city of Linz, in Austria.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Lithuania.


Which place is cheaper, Vilnius 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 $189, while the average daily cost in Vilnius is $136. 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 Vilnius in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Vilnius $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Vilnius $96
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Vilnius

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Vilnius? 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 Vilnius


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 Vilnius Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Vilnius $8.44

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vilnius

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Vilnius:


  • Train to Airport
    $0.93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vilnius

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vilnius:

  • Trakai Tour with Audio Guide and Minibus Transfers: $35
  • Jewish Heritage Sites Private Tour with Transfer: $235
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride with Hotel Transfer: $235
  • Vilnius Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: $70
  • Private Vilnius Airport Departure Transfer: $41
  • Private Transfer: from Vilnius to Klaipeda via Trakai Castle: $276
  • Premium Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Trakai (transfer included): $206
  • Hot air balloon flight Vilnius, Trakai with Transfer & Shampagne: $199
  • From Suburbs Hot Air Balloon Ride w/ Hotel Transfer: $164
  • CO2-Offset Arrival Transfer from Vilnius VNO Airport to Vilnius: $100

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Vilnius?

Prices for flights to both Vilnius 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
    Vilnius $74
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

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


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.09

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: $195

Typical Food Prices in Vilnius

Some typical examples of dining costs in Vilnius are as follows:


  • Dinner for Two
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vilnius

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

  • Dinner with a local family: $97
  • Cooking Class in Vilnius: $112
  • Zeppelin Cooking Class: $117

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Vilnius $11

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • Guided Arusha town tour with market visit,shopping, and city walk: $17
  • Arusha Guided Tour: Culture, History, Markets& Hidden Gems: $19
  • Arusha's Soul: A Guided Walking & Drive City Tour. Learn & Live.: $21
  • Arusha Waterfalls,Coffee farm Tour & Swing(all inclusive): $30
  • Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
  • Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $30
  • Sunset Tour in Arusha with Scenic Views of Mountain: $35
  • Private Local Market Tour in Tengeru: $35
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Mountain Bike Tour of the Foothills of Mount Meru: $40
  • Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Arusha: $50
  • 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50

Typical Entertainment Prices in Vilnius

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Vilnius are as follows:


  • Walking Tour
    $6.74

Tours and Activities in Vilnius

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vilnius are as follows:

  • (Post) Soviet Vilnius Private Walking Tour: $141
  • 1-Day Pilgrim Tour from Vilnius: $516
  • Admission Ticket at Auto Museum Vilnius: $24
  • Audio Tour of Vilnius Old Town Core: $12
  • Audio Tour of Vilnius Old Town Core and the South Part 2in1: $14
  • Audio Tour of the South Part of the Vilnius Old Town: $11
  • Automuseum Entry Ticket: $21
  • Bike Tour of Vilnius Highlights "Iconic Landmarks & Hidden Gems": $34
  • Cathedral Crypts and Medieval History Tour: $35
  • Discover Highlights of Vilnius City in Private Tour: $268
  • Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Dzukija National Park and Grutas Park: Full-Day Tour: $235

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $10
    Vilnius $7.08

Typical Alcohol Prices in Vilnius

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Vilnius from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $5.06

Sample the Local Flavors in Vilnius

Also in Vilnius, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Vilnius Private Pub & Bar Crawl Tour & Hidden Gems: $62
  • Pub Crawl with Welcome Drink and Traditional Snacks: $77


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Vilnius, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Vilnius much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Vilnius 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 Vilnius would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vilnius 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 Vilnius.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Vilnius Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Vilnius?

Vilnius has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Vilnius, 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.