Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $493Johannesburg $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $493, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $115. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $452Johannesburg $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $904Johannesburg $116
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $14Johannesburg $17
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 Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $106
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
- Zanzibar Ferry & Hotel Transfer: $125
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Classic Day trip: Train Transfer To Mikumi National Park: $340
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- OR Tambo to Sun City Transfer : $225
- Transfers Between OR Tambo and Pilanesburg : $209
- 24 hour Airport Shuttle and Transfer: $207
- Suncity Transfer: $206
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria hotels: $179
- JHB: Lesedi Cultural Village Tour TRANSFER&ENTRANCE INCLUDED: $158
- Private Transfer, Airports to Cradle of Humankind & Muldersdrift : $156
- Airport Transfers from Cradle of Humankind Muldesdrift to Jo'burg: $156
- Kwa Maritane Transfer and Game Drive Package: $155
- Johannesburg Quad Biking & Return Transfer: Haartebeespoort: $144
- Abseiling & Return Transfer Included Lanseria: $144
- Go Karting & Transfer to Lanseria Included: $144
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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 $33Johannesburg $31
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
- Tuk-Tuk Food Tour: $110
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $60
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $85
- Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $105
- Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner : $106
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $107
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $110
- Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience : $130
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $132
- Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $144
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Johannesburg $23
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Guided Fish Market Tour: $25
- Dar es Salaam Walking Tour: History and Hidden Treasures: $30
- Dar es Salaam City Center: Walking Tour: $30
- Private Insightful City Tour of Dar es Salaam: $34
- Tuk-Tuk Tour, Street Food & Local Lifestyle: $39
- City Tour with National Museum & Market Visit: $40
- Walking Tour Dar es Salaam City: $47
- Daressalaam city sightseeing private tour: $55
- Nightlife Tour with Local Guide: $60
- Exclusive Beach and Resort Experience: $65
- City Tour: $77
- Dar-es-Salaam city tour (Day trip) unforgettable memory: $80
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $242
- Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $130
- Private Full Day Johannesburg apartheid museum and Soweto Tour : $118
- Private soweto half day tour: $80
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $56
- 1 Day Pilanesberg Safari with Tour Guide: $271
- 2-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $1,063
- 5 Days 4 Nights Safari Tour In Madikwe And Pilanersbeg: $2,386
- Aerial cableway Hartebeespoort Halfday tour: $153
- African Food Tasting Tour: $65
- Amapiano & Afrobeats Nightlife Experience in Johannesburg: $109
- Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria: $198
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.97Johannesburg $5.05
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.85
- Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Johannesburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Johannesburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg.
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 Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Johannesburg?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 33% larger than the population of Johannesburg. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg, 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.