Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo?
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 Antananarivo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Antananarivo?
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.
Antananarivo
Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $460Antananarivo $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $460, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $72. 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 Antananarivo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $434Antananarivo $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $868Antananarivo $60
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Antananarivo
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Antananarivo? 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 Antananarivo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Antananarivo $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam city to Dar es Salaam Airport DAR by Minivan: $17
- Airport Transfer from JNIA Airport to Hotels in Dar essalaam: $55
- Private Airport Transfers in Dar : $60
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $73
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Airport Transfers To/from Dar Es Salaam City Center Or To/from Your Hotel: $85
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam Airport DAR by Business Car: $100
- Luxury Coach - Dar Es Salaam Airport Transfer to the City Centre/Out ( 22 max): $113
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (private Guide And Transfer) 9 Hrs : $190
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer with comfortable car: $192
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:
- Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Antananarivo?
Prices for flights to both Antananarivo 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 $18Antananarivo $29
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.
- Street food and Cooking class tour in Antananarivo: $163
- Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Antananarivo $24
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Private Insightful City Tour of Dar es Salaam: $25
- Dar es salaam City Tour : $38
- City Historical Walking Tour And Street Food.: $40
- City Walking Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $40
- Dar Es Salaam:Shore Excursion Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $46
- Dar es salaam Reality Tour: $51
- Dar es salaam City Tour & Storytelling: $72
- City Tour: $77
- Dar es salaam full City tour , unforgettable memory: $77
- Tanzania Private Swahili culture experience: $80
- The Best/Top Rated Cultural City Tour in Dar es Salaam : $85
- Dar es Salaam City Tour Tanzania : $89
Tours and Activities in Antananarivo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:
- 3 days -Wildlife and Lemur discovery Tour to Andasibe: $681
- Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
- Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
- Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $23
- Day - Tour Ampefy: $144
- Day tour discovery Tour to Ampefy village: $271
- From 9 days unique adventure trip to Tulear!: $1,862
- Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $201
- Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
- Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
- Madagascar Adventures on Tana, West, East, North, and South: $2,550
- Madagascar: Andasibe and Nosy Be Tour in one week: $2,240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.66Antananarivo $9.65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Antananarivo, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Antananarivo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Antananarivo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo.
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 Antananarivo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Antananarivo?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Antananarivo, 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.