Which place is cheaper, Arusha 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 Arusha?
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 Arusha can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Arusha?
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.
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to Tanzania, and The Best Luxury Tours to Tanzania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $460Arusha $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $460, while the average daily cost in Arusha is $176. 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 Arusha in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $434Arusha $129
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $868Arusha $258
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Arusha
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Arusha? 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 Arusha Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Arusha $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sunset Cruise - Magic of Zanzibar Sunset With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100
- 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): $73
- 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 by luxury car.: $200
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour.(private Guide And Transfer) 10 Hrs: $200
- Airport Transfer from JNIA Airport to Hotels in Dar essalaam: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $130
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer | Pick Up & Drop up | With BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD: $100
- Transfer Around Moshi and Arusha in Tanzania: $75
- Airport Transfers, Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro JRO: $70
- Private Roundtrip Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha.: $50
- Airport transfer: $45
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Tanzanite Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Arusha?
Prices for flights to both Arusha 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 $18Arusha $24
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 Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking and Sewing & Jewelry Workshops in Arusha: $27
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Africa health cuisine food tour: $105
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Arusha $45
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 Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Day Tour in Arusha National Park: $279
- Marangu waterfall & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD : $150
- Materuni Waterfalls, Visiting Chagga Village, CoffeeTour Kikuletwa Hotsprings: $100
- Materuni Waterfalls,Coffee and Chemka Hotspring Tour: $100
- Materuni waterfalls coffee tour & Chemka hot springs Day trip: $95
- "Ultimate Tanzanian Adventure: 5-Day Safari Experience": $4,275
- 1 Day Arusha National Park tour: $270
- 1 Day Best Of Tarangire National Park Tour on 4x4 Jeep: $675
- 1 Day Tour Hot Spring (Majimoto): $80
- 1-Day Ngorongoro Crater Special Tour: $645
- 1-Day Tarangire National Park Tour: $267
- 12 Days Best Of Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Tour: $8,775
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.66Arusha $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Arusha, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Arusha much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Arusha would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arusha 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 Arusha.
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 Arusha Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Arusha?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Arusha, 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.