Which place is cheaper, Addis Ababa or Dar es Salaam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
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 Historical Tours in Ethiopia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Ethiopia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $460Addis Ababa $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $460, while the average daily cost in Addis Ababa is $68. 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
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $434Addis Ababa $44
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $868Addis Ababa $88
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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Addis Ababa $7.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer by luxury car.: $200
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour.(private Guide And Transfer) 10 Hrs: $200
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Luxury Car: $167
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Luxury Coach - Dar Es Salaam Airport Transfer to the City Centre/Out ( 22 max): $113
- Sunset Cruise - Magic of Zanzibar Sunset With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $73
- Airport Transfer from JNIA Airport to Hotels in Dar essalaam: $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
-
Short Taxi Ride$0.53
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: $175
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $44
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $21
- Addis Shuttles: On-Time & Reliable, Airport Transfers: $19
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
-
Food Meals for one dayDar es Salaam $18Addis Ababa $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dar es Salaam
For Dar es Salaam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Swahili Cooking Class: $115
- Swahili food Cooking Experience: $150
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
-
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: $75
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $108
- Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
- HALF DAY + DINNER Addis Ababa City Tour: $140
- Half Day + Dinner Addis Ababa City Tour: $150
- Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis with transfers: $154
- Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
- Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205
- Food tours in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: $239
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Addis Ababa $8.10
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
- 3-Day Mikumi Safari Adventure: $634
- 4-Day Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking tour.: $1,600
- Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
- Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $187
- Bird Watching Tour to Tegetero Forest 2days 1 night: $205
- City Tour in Dar es salaam, Tanzania: $140
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour: $150
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (Private Guide and car) Full day: $220
- Dar Es Salaam Day Trip Tour: $388
- Dar Es Salaam:Shore Excursion Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $46
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Airport Layover Tour | Addis highlights, National Palace, Coffee Ceremony: $200
- 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $311
- 3 Day Private Meskel Festival, Addis Ababa City and Debre Libanos Monastery Tour: $300
- 3 Days Visiting Harar and Dire Dawa Tours: $480
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $57
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa highlights city tour from Bole airport: $75
- 9 Days Omo Valley and Danakil Danakil Depression tour: $3,836
- A guided tour of Addis Abeba that includes a city viewpoint: $59
- Addis Ababa - Half Day City Tour: $180
- Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour: $75
- Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
- Addis Ababa City Tour: $249
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.66Addis Ababa $6.69
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
- The Pub Crawl Royale: A Battle of the Best Drinks: $64
- Locally crafted beer and wine tasting and nightlife in Addis tour: $65
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $69
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.