A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dar es Salaam vs. Antananarivo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.

Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Dar es Salaam?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $473, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $70. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dar es Salaam $446
    Antananarivo $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dar es Salaam $892
    Antananarivo $58
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.

Hotels in Dar es Salaam


Hotels in Antananarivo


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dar es Salaam $14
    Antananarivo $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 Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam city by minivan: $21
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam city to Dar es Salaam Airport DAR by Minivan: $21
  • Dar es salaam Airport Transfer (Private & Group): $50
  • Airport to Hotel Transfer: $56
  • Private Airport Transfers in Dar : $60
  • Airport to Hotel Transfer.: $60
  • Private Transfer from Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR) to Dar El Salaam: $73
  • Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $73
  • 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
  • Airport Transfers: $100
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Business Car: $100

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Private Madagascar Antananarivo Airport - Antananarivo City Round-Trip Transfer: $102
  • Private Departure Transfer: Madagascar Antananarivo City to Antananarivo Airport: $51
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Madagascar Antananarivo Airport to Antananarivo City: $51

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dar es Salaam $19
    Antananarivo $28

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:

  • Experience Tanzania Culture and Local Food Cooking: $68
  • Market Tour & Cooking Class in Morogoro including Hotel Transfers: $98
  • Private Swahili Cooking Class: $115

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

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

  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dar es Salaam -
    Antananarivo $23

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: $30
  • Dar es salaam City Tour : $40
  • Dar es Salaam City Historical Walking Tour.: $51
  • Dar es salaam Reality Tour: $51
  • Private Tour to Prison Island - Changuu Private Island: $65
  • Private Tour to Jozani Forest Reserve Half-Day Guided Tour from Zanzibar: $67
  • Shore Excursion - Dar Es Salaam City Tour: $74
  • City Tour: $77
  • The Best/Top Rated Cultural City Tour in Dar es Salaam : $85
  • Stone Town & Spice Tour: $90
  • Jozani + Dolphins tour: $95
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

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

  • (SOUTH TOUR) RN 7 (National Road 7): $1,888
  • (east Tour) Andasibe N.p / St. Mary: $1,363
  • 10 Days South of Madagascar Classic Tour: $2,097
  • 14-Day Classic RN7 Route Tour in Madagascar: $3,219
  • 2-Day Private Tour of Andasibe National Park : $677
  • 4 Day Adventure in Masoala National Park from Antananarivo: $4,299
  • 5 Days Private Tour in Eastern Madagascar: $1,029
  • 9 Days East of Madagascar Tour: $1,884
  • Adventure discovery in luxury lodge: $1,065
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dar es Salaam $7.88
    Antananarivo $9.44


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.

Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Antananarivo?

Dar es Salaam is bigger, and its population is about 94% larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the population of Dar es Salaam vs. 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 and the activities 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.
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Dar es Salaam vs. Antananarivo Travel Comparison

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