A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dar es Salaam vs. Johannesburg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.


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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $477, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $107. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dar es Salaam $437
    Johannesburg $54
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dar es Salaam $874
    Johannesburg $108
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.

Hotels in Dar es Salaam


Hotels in Johannesburg


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dar es Salaam $13
    Johannesburg $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam

Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam city to Dar es Salaam Airport DAR by Minivan: $17
  • Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR) Private Transfer to Dar es Salaam: $50
  • Dar Es Salaam - Airport Transfers & City Centre Shuttles: $50
  • Dar Es Salaam Transfer from Airport Hotel Ferry or Train : $60
  • Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar: Airport Transfer to the Hotel: $70
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Business Car: $100
  • Luxury Coach - Dar Es Salaam Airport Transfer to the City Centre/Out ( 22 max): $113
  • Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam Airport by luxury car: $167
  • Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (private Guide And Transfer) 9 Hrs : $190
  • Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer with comfortable car: $192

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:

  • Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $221
  • Johannesburg Airport (JNB) to Johannesburg Round-Trip Transfer: $221
  • Private Land Rover transfer to Sun City from Johannesburg and PTA: $198
  • Transfers Between OR Tambo and Pilanesburg : $198
  • Suncity Transfer: $195
  • Executive Airport Transfers - OR Tambo to Sandton : $181
  • Private Transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria hotels: $158
  • Airport Transfers from Cradle of Humankind Muldesdrift to Jo'burg: $148
  • Private Transfer, Airports to Cradle of Humankind & Muldersdrift : $148
  • Abseiling & Return Transfer Included Lanseria: $136
  • Johannesburg Quad Biking & Return Transfer: Haartebeespoort: $136
  • Go Karting & Transfer to Lanseria Included: $136

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dar es Salaam $32
    Johannesburg $29

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

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!: $50
  • Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $50
  • Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $79
  • Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $80
  • Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $82
  • A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
  • Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $100
  • Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $109
  • Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $125

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dar es Salaam -
    Johannesburg $21

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 Center: Walking Tour: $24
  • Dar Es Salam City: Children's Homes Visit & Donation Tour.: $25
  • Dar Es Salaam :City Historical & Sightseeing Guided Tour.: $25
  • City Walking Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $26
  • Dar es salaam City Guided Walking Tour Experience: $27
  • Dar es Salaam Walking Tour: History and Hidden Treasures: $30
  • Dar Es Salaam Airport Layovers Guided Tour: $31
  • Private Insightful City Tour of Dar es Salaam: $32
  • Dar es Salaam City Sightseeing And Discovery Guided Tour..: $35
  • Dar Es Salaam City Guided Sightseeing Tour By Car: $35
  • Dar Es Salaam:Shore Excursion Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $36
  • Walking Tour Dar es Salaam City: $42

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: $228
  • Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $123
  • Private Full Day Johannesburg apartheid museum and Soweto Tour : $111
  • Soweto Private half day tour: $75
  • (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $53
  • 1 Day Pilanesberg Safari with Tour Guide: $271
  • 2 Days Kruger Fly-in Big 5 Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $1,009
  • 2-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $948
  • 2-Day Kruger Overland Big 5 Safari Tour: $853
  • 3 Day Kruger Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $947
  • 3 Days 2 Nights Panorama Tour & Kruger National park Safari: $837
  • 4 Day Kruger Fly in Big 5 Safari Tour from Johannesburg: $1,474

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dar es Salaam $7.72
    Johannesburg $4.69

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: $8.36
  • Wine Tasting: $11
  • Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $12
  • Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $136


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.