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

Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Antsiranana?

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 Antsiranana can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Antsiranana?

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.

Antsiranana

Antsiranana is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Diana, and until 1975 it was known as Diego Suarez. The city has a port that has become a site for naval repairs and is the largest in the entire Indian Ocean. The port is mainly used for tinned fish and bottled drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The city has a population of a little over 100,000. The French used the city as a military base after independence from 1960 until 1973, after the socialist revolution.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antsiranana 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 $466, while the average daily cost in Antsiranana is $90. 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 Antsiranana in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dar es Salaam $439
    Antsiranana $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dar es Salaam $878
    Antsiranana $86
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Antsiranana

Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Antsiranana? 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 Antsiranana


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dar es Salaam $14
    Antsiranana $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam

Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam Airport by luxury car: $167
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam Airport DAR by Business Car: $100
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam city to Dar es Salaam Airport DAR by Minivan: $17
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Luxury Car: $167
  • Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $74
  • Private Airport Transfers in Dar : $60
  • 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-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer with comfortable car: $192
  • Dar es Salaam Airport: Arrivals & Departures Transfer: $62
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75

Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Antsiranana?

Prices for flights to both Antsiranana 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 $18
    Antsiranana $35

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dar es Salaam -
    Antsiranana $19

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: $646
  • 4-Day Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking tour.: $1,600
  • Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $187
  • Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
  • City Tour in Dar es salaam, Tanzania: $140
  • Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (Private Guide and car) Full day: $270
  • Dar Es Salaam Day Trip Tour: $388
  • Dar Es Salaam:Shore Excursion Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $47
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
  • Dar es Salaam Classic Night Life Tour: $257
  • Dar es Salaam Full-Day Private Tour: $145

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dar es Salaam $7.76
    Antsiranana $10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Antsiranana, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Antsiranana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Antsiranana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antsiranana 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 Antsiranana.

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 Antsiranana Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Antsiranana?

Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Antsiranana. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Antsiranana, 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.