Which place is cheaper, Diani or Dakar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dakar or Diani?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dakar or Diani, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Dakar or Diani?
Dakar
Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.
Diani
Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Senegal, The Best Luxury Tours to Senegal, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDakar $61Diani $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Dakar is $61, while the average daily cost in Diani is $55. 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 Dakar and Diani in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDakar $32Diani $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDakar $64Diani $48
Compare Hotels in Dakar and Diani
Looking for a hotel in Dakar or Diani? 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: Diani Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dakar $5.32Diani $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:
- Transfer - DSS Airport <-> Dakar (One way): $66
- Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Dakar (two directions): $82
- DSS Airport Transfer <-> Dakar (Return): $120
- Blaise Diagne Int Airport (DSS): Transfer to Dakar hotels: $209
- AIBD-DAKAR transfer: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani
Also for Diani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $63
- Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Dakar or Diani?
Prices for flights to both Diani and Dakar 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 dayDakar $19Diani $20
Typical Food Prices in Dakar
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:
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Breakfast$4.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dakar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dakar.
- Senegalese Street Food Tour in Dakar: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dakar $13Diani $15
Tours and Activities in Dakar
Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mamelles Lighthouse and Ngor Island (Walking Tour): $130
- 2-day tour Lac rose- desert of Lompoul: $290
- Accro Baobab Adventure Ticket Entry: $38
- Dakar City Tour and Goree Island: $162
- Pink Lake and Turtle Village Half-Day Tour: $200
- Private City Tour: $108
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $30
- Day trip Goree island and Dakar city tour : $159
- From Dakar or Saly: Half-Day Tour to Pink Lake: $136
- From Dakar/Saly: Half-Day Bandia Wildlife Reserve Tour: $244
- Full Day Goree Island And Dakar City Tour(Minimum 2 Participants): $142
- Full Day Private Tour in move, eat, act like a local: $109
Tours and Activities in Diani
For Diani, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Diani Beach: 2-Hour Glass Bottom-Boat Cruise: $22
- Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $25
- Sunset Canoe Tour along the River with Mangroves: $28
- Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
- Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $30
- Diani Beach: Children's Homes Visit And Donation Tour.: $36
- Day & Night Life Tour At Diani: $40
- Duruma Traditional Wedding Demo, Village Tour and Dance Show: $49
- Diani Beach: Village tour on a bike with hotel pick-up: $57
- Wasini island: Marine Park, Dolphin Watch & Village Tour: $100
- Full Day Shimba hills tour with Shifoga nature trail: $120
- 1 day Shimba Hills Tour: $185
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDakar $8.92Diani $9.04
Sample the Local Flavors in Diani
Also in Diani, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Diani,Mombasa Nightlife And Pub Crawling Guided Tour.: $43
When comparing the travel costs between Dakar and Diani, we can see that Dakar is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dakar Expensive? and Is Diani Expensive?.
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.