Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Dar es Salaam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Cancun?
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 Cancun can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Cancun?
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.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $462Cancun $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $462, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $162. 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 Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $424Cancun $94
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $848Cancun $188
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Cancun? 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 Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Cancun $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zanzibar Airport Shared Taxi Transfer to Any Hotel: $10
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
- Private Airport Transfers in Dar: $60
- Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR) Private Transfer to Dar es Salaam: $50
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Dar es salaam Half Day Tour With Transfers: $59
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Airport Transfers To/from Dar Es Salaam City Center Or To/from Your Hotel: $85
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.61
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Akumal One Way or Roundtrip Private Luxury Transfer: $291
- Private Transfer Cancun Airport to Chiquilá Holbox Ferry: $280
- Limo Transfer Airport Cancun - Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone: $279
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $265
- Full-Day Tour to Xcaret Plus with Transfer from Playa del Carmen and Lunch: $265
- Private Transfer roundtrip (Cancun Airport-Akumal): $259
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer to Tulum (Round Trip): $250
- Private Transfer from Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum: $241
- Holbox Private Transfer from Cancun Hotels or Airport: $229
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $228
- Luxury one way transfer to Tulum from Cancun airport: $220
- Round private transfer Airport- Akumal - Airport.: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun 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 $31Cancun $48
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:
- Market Tour & Cooking Class in Morogoro including Hotel Transfers: $98
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour in Cancun with a Local Guide: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Tortilla Trails Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Street Food Tour – Local Market & Downtown Experience: $69
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Cancun $34
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Bagamoyo Adventure, Historical Tour: $238
- Bagamoyo Full-Day Tour: Historic Slave Market & Kaole Ruins: $280
- Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
- Bagamoyo Tour: $120
- Car Tour to Mikumi National Park for You: $270
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour (Full Day With Private Guide And Car): $160
- Dar Es Salaam City tour: $164
- Dar Es Salaam Local Markets and Village-National Museum Day tour: $150
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Visit all attractive places: $130
- Dar es Salaam City Tour: Experience & Insights Tanzanian culture: $28
- Dar es Salaam City Walking tour - Explore the Life of the Local People!: $100
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.58
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$98
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Tour to Bacalar, Cenotes and 7 color Lagoon with lunch from Cancun: $125
- 1-Day Tour to Bacalar with Kayaking, Marmol Beach Club and Cenote: $119
- 1-hour Clear Boat Tour in Nichupte Lagoon from Cancun: $23
- 2 Day Combo Tour, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Chichen Itza Option: $280
- 2 Island Adventure: Contoy & Mujeres with Snorkeling & open bar: $80
- 2 Islands Tour - Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen: $160
- 2-Day Deluxe Tour: Tulum and Chichén Itzá: $120
- 2-day tour: Isla Mujeres catamaran and Chichen Itzá: $119
- 2x1 Tulum tour and Chichen Itza tour for 1 price in 2 days: $139
- 3 Hidden Cenotes Experience & Puerto Morelos Reef Snorkeling: $79
- 3 adrenaline activities Atvs Zipline and a swim experience in a cenote: $60
- 3 in 1 Jungle Tour Adventure Cancun: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.48Cancun $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A bespoke wine tastings crafted for unforgettable moments: $86
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Cancun, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dar es Salaam is in Africa and Cancun is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cancun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cancun 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 Cancun.
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 Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Cancun?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Cancun, 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.