Which place is cheaper, Kampala 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 Kampala?
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 Kampala can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Kampala?
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.
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesKampala Prices
Uganda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $462Kampala $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $462, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $77. 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 Kampala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $424Kampala $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $848Kampala $120
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Kampala
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Kampala? 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 Kampala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Kampala $2.54
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 Transfer from Airport Hotel Ferry or Train: $55
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Half-Day City Tour with Transfers: $59
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Private Airport Transfers in Dar: $60
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $104
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Zanzibar Airport Shared Taxi Transfer to Any Hotel: $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Full-Day Kampala City Highlights Tour, Lunch & private Transfers: $156
- Private Entebbe Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-off 24/7: $80
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
- The best Half day Kampala City Tour with Transfers: $65
- Private Airport & In-Country Transfers in Central Uganda: $60
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Kampala?
Prices for flights to both Kampala 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 $31Kampala $15
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:
- Dar es Salaam Old Town Walking and Food Tour With Transfers: $70
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
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Lunch for 2$1.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Cooking class Experience in Kampala Uganda: $35
- Matoke Moments Kampala Food Tour 12+ Tastings: $49
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $99
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Kampala -
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 Architectural Guided Walking Tour and History: $22
- Dar es Salaam City Tour: Experience & Insights Tanzanian culture: $38
- Nightlife and Local Food Experience in Dar es Salaam: $65
- Private Tour to Jozani Forest Reserve Half-Day Guided Tour from Zanzibar: $90
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
- Private Dar es Salaam Experience: Culture & Local Life: $99
- Dar es Salaam City Walking tour - Explore the Life of the Local People!: $100
- Full Day Private Tour in Dar es Salaam City: $104
- Zanzibar Spice Tour: $109
- Stone Town & Spice Tour: $110
- Bongoyo Island Full Day Tour from Dar Es Salaam: $120
- Bagamoyo Tour: $120
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $30
- 1 Day Jinja & Source of the Nile River tour (female guided): $230
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
- 1 Day Shoebill Stork and Birding Experience: $190
- 1 Day Tour of Jinja and Source of the Nile: $180
- 1 Day Uganda Equator Tour From Kampala To Kayabwe: $200
- 1 Day Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Safari and Wildlife Tour, Uganda: $300
- 1 day Uganda Equator Experience: $200
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
- 1-Day Jinja & River Nile Tour(Women-Guided-Experience): $179
- 1-Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $289
- 1/2 Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tour: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.48Kampala -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Kampala, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampala 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 Kampala.
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 Kampala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Kampala?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Kampala, 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.