Which place is cheaper, Jinja 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 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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $460Jinja $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $460, while the average daily cost in Jinja is $92. 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 $434Jinja $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $868Jinja $88
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 Transfer from JNIA Airport to Hotels in Dar essalaam: $55
- Airport Transfers To/from Dar Es Salaam City Center Or To/from Your Hotel: $85
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (private Guide And Transfer) 9 Hrs : $190
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer with comfortable car: $192
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Luxury Coach - Dar Es Salaam Airport Transfer to the City Centre/Out ( 22 max): $113
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $73
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Luxury Car: $167
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam Airport by luxury car: $167
- Sunset Cruise - Magic of Zanzibar Sunset With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
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 $18Jinja $28
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Jinja $29
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Private Insightful City Tour of Dar es Salaam: $25
- WOW AFRICA TANZANIA EAST AFRICA TOUR.: $35
- City Walking Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $41
- City Historical Walking Tour And Street Food.: $41
- Guided Dar es salaam walking tours: $43
- Dar Es Salaam:Shore Excursion Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $46
- Dar es salaam Reality Tour: $51
- Dar es salaam City Tour & Storytelling: $72
- Spice tour & Stone Town Zanzibar secrets with Lunch - Zanzibar: $75
- City Tour: $77
- Dar es salaam full City tour , unforgettable memory: $77
- Tanzania Private Swahili culture experience: $80
Tours and Activities in Jinja
Here are a few actual costs in Jinja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 18 Days African Jungle Safari Tour: $9,433
- 3days jinja and sipi falls tour: $800
- David's Shared Walking Tour in Jinja with a Local Cultural Meal: $40
- Half-Day Banana Kayak Experience in Bubugo with Lunch: $25
- Half-Day Jinja Walking Tour: Source of Nile & Boat Ride Options: $31
- Guided Walking Tour with Optional Source of the Nile: $31
- Three days source of the nile & sipi falls tour: $760
- Uganda: 4 Day Jinja City Tour Uganda: $1,655
- White Water Rafting & Source of the Nile Adventure: $760
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.66Jinja $13
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.