Which place is cheaper, Jinja 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 Jinja?
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 Jinja can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Jinja?
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.
Jinja
Jinja is a city located at the source of the Nile in Uganda, Africa. Many backpackers travel to Jinja, as it is known for its white water rafting. This city is the third largest economy in all of the East African Community. It has a population of about 72,000 people.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Wildlife Tours to Uganda, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Uganda.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesJinja Prices
Uganda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $452Jinja $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $452, while the average daily cost in Jinja is $116. 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 Jinja in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $415Jinja $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $830Jinja $90
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Jinja
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Jinja? 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 Jinja Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Jinja $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers To/from Dar Es Salaam City Center Or To/from Your Hotel: $85
- Classic Day trip: Train Transfer To Mikumi National Park: $323
- Dar Es Salaam - Airport Transfers & City Centre Shuttles: $50
- Dar Es Salaam Transfer from Airport Hotel Ferry or Train : $60
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar: Airport Transfer to the Hotel: $70
- 1 Day Mikumi Safari (SGR VIP Train Transfer): $380
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jinja
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jinja:
- 1-Day Source of River Nile Tour with Transfers: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Jinja?
Prices for flights to both Jinja 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 $30Jinja $51
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:
- Taste of Tanzania Cooking Class and Food Tour: $20
- Tanzania: traditional Swahili cooking class: $45
- Market Tour & Cooking Class in Morogoro including Hotel Transfers: $98
- Dar es Salaam Tuk-Tuk Food Tour: Taste the City’s Flavors!: $109
- Tuk-Tuk Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Jinja $30
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Dar Es Salam City Guided Sightseeing Tour With A Local Guide: $22
- City Walking Tour and Street Food Tasting: $23
- Dar es Salaam City Center: Walking Tour: $24
- Mombasa: Nguuni Sanctuary Guided Giraffes Feeding Experience: $30
- Dar es Salaam Walking Tour: History and Hidden Treasures: $30
- Walking Tour Dar es Salaam City: $45
- Nightlife Tour with Local Guide: $60
- City Tour: $77
- Dar es salaam full City tour , unforgettable memory: $77
- Dar-es-Salaam city tour (Day trip) unforgettable memory: $80
- City Tour with Local Guide: $89
- The Best/Top Rated Cultural City Tour in Dar es Salaam : $90
Tours and Activities in Jinja
Here are a few actual costs in Jinja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Jinja And Source Of The Nile River Tour(female Guided): $295
- 1-DAY BEST JINJA & SOURCE OF RIVER NILE TOUR: $220
- 2 days Jinja adventure with white water rafting and tubing: $200
- David's Shared Walking Tour in Jinja with a Local Cultural Meal: $40
- EPIC UGANDA SAFARI ADVENTURE | (2 Adults-1 Child Tier) 5-Day: $3,850
- HIGH-OCTANE ADVENTURES—QUADBIKE, ZIPLINE, RIVER-RAFT & MORE: $2,750
- Half-Day Jinja Walking Tour: Source of Nile & Boat Ride Options: $31
- 2 Day Tour with Source of the Nile and Boat Cruise: $492
- 2 Day tour with visit to the Sipi Falls: $418
- Full Day Tour with source of the Nile Boat Cruise: $175
- Guided Walking Tour with Optional Source of the Nile: $31
- UGANDA HORSEBACK — SCENIC LANDSCAPES & ADVENTURES | 8-Days: $3,200
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.32Jinja $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Jinja, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Jinja much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jinja would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jinja 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 Jinja.
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 Jinja Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Jinja?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Jinja. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Jinja, 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.