Which place is cheaper, Durban 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 Durban?
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 Durban can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Durban?
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.
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $460Durban $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $460, while the average daily cost in Durban is $52. 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 Durban in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $434Durban $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $868Durban $48
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Durban
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Durban? 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 Durban Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Durban $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer by luxury car.: $200
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour.(private Guide And Transfer) 10 Hrs: $200
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Luxury Car: $167
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Luxury Coach - Dar Es Salaam Airport Transfer to the City Centre/Out ( 22 max): $113
- Sunset Cruise - Magic of Zanzibar Sunset With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $73
- Airport Transfer from JNIA Airport to Hotels in Dar essalaam: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $485
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $106
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $45
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Durban?
Prices for flights to both Durban 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 $18Durban $16
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 Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Durban $16
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: $636
- 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 Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 1/2 Day Durban City & Phezulu Tour From Durban: $145
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $143
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $113
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $142
- 1/2 Day Phezulu Safari Tour from Durban: $146
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $147
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park Tour from Durban: $147
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $155
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $148
- 12 Days Best Of South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to CapeTown: $3,257
- 15 Day Tour Cape Town to Johannesburg: $3,257
- 2 Day Hluhluwe Imfolo & Isimangaliso W/Park Tour from Durban: $616
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.66Durban $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Durban, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Durban much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durban would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durban 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 Durban.
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 Durban Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Durban?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Dar es Salaam. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Durban, 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.
When is the best time to visit Dar es Salaam or Durban?
Durban has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dar es Salaam experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Durban in the Summer?
Both Durban and Dar es Salaam are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dar es Salaam throughout the year.
In the summer, Dar es Salaam is around the same temperature as Durban. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dar es Salaam in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Durban averages at about 25°C (76°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually receives more sunshine than Durban during summer. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Durban receives 184 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Durban. In July, Dar es Salaam usually receives less rain than Durbanin January. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Durban receives 134 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryDar es Salaam 25°C (77°F)Durban 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Durban in the Autumn?
Both Durban and Dar es Salaam during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dar es Salaam because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Dar es Salaam is generally a little warmer than Durbanin April. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (78°F), and Durban fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
In Durban, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dar es Salaam. In the autumn, Dar es Salaam often gets more sunshine than Durbanin April. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durban receives 206 hours of full sun.
Dar es Salaam usually gets less rain in October than Durbanin April. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Durban receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilDar es Salaam 25°C (78°F)Durban 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Durban in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and Durban. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round.
Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Durban in the winter. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Durban fluctuates around 17°C (62°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durban this time of the year. In Dar es Salaam, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dar es Salaam usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Durban during winter. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Durban receives 230 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Durbanin July. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Durban receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyDar es Salaam 28°C (82°F)Durban 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Durban in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as Durban. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Dar es Salaam is a little warmer than Durban. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dar es Salaam in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Durban averages at about 21°C (69°F)in October.
In the spring, Dar es Salaam often gets less sunshine than Durbanin October. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durban receives 169 hours of full sun.
Dar es Salaam receives a lot of rain in the spring. Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in April than Durbanin October. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Durban receives 98 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberDar es Salaam 27°C (81°F)Durban 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Durban and Dar es Salaam
| Dar es Salaam | Durban | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
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.