Which place is cheaper, Addis Ababa or Dar es Salaam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Addis Ababa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Addis Ababa?
Dar es Salaam
Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to Ethiopia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Ethiopia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $447Addis Ababa $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $447, while the average daily cost in Addis Ababa is $67. 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 Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $422Addis Ababa $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $844Addis Ababa $86
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Addis Ababa? 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: Dar es Salaam Hotel Prices and Addis Ababa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Addis Ababa $7.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Luxury Car: $167
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Airport Transfers To/from Dar Es Salaam City Center Or To/from Your Hotel: $85
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $74
- Private Transfer from Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR) to Dar El Salaam: $74
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Addis Ababa?
Prices for flights to both Addis Ababa and Dar es Salaam 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 dayDar es Salaam $18Addis Ababa $17
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa
For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- City Tour, Food Tour, Shopping in Shiro Meda Market : $72
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $75
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
- Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
- Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
- Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Addis Ababa $7.98
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour (Full Day With Private Guide And Car): $150
- Bagamoyo Heritage Adventure: Private Full-Day Cultural Tour: $248
- Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
- Bird Watching Tour to Tegetero Forest 2days 1 night: $205
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (Private Guide and car) Full day: $220
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Visit all attractive places: $117
- Dar es Salaam History and Architectural Tours: $150
- Dar es salaam City Tour : $38
- Dar es salaam Reality Tour: $51
- Dar es salaam city sightseeing private tour: $199
- Day Trip to Dar Es Salaam Zoo & Horse Riding Tour: $280
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Addis Ababa City Tours Full-Day Tours : $113
- “Addis Ababa City Tours”: $75
- 3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $85
- Addis Ababa - Half Day City Tour: $180
- Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour: $75
- Addis Ababa Bole Airport Culinary and Walking Tour : $89
- Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
- Addis Ababa City Tour: $120
- Addis Ababa City Tours Full Day With Hotel Pickup And Drop Off: $79
- Addis Ababa City Tours With Cocking Class Of Ethiopian Food & Shopping : $81
- Addis Ababa City tour: $72
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.44Addis Ababa $6.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam than you might in Addis Ababa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dar es Salaam Expensive? and Is Addis Ababa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Dar es Salaam. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa, 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.