Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Kathmandu?
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.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesKathmandu Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $463Kathmandu $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $463, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $54. 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 Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $424Kathmandu $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $848Kathmandu $68
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Kathmandu $5.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zanzibar Airport Shared Taxi Transfer to Any Hotel: $35
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $50
- Half-Day City Tour with Transfers: $59
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Private Airport Transfers in Dar: $60
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
- Dar es Salaam Aya Sophia Wildlife, Beach, Lunch and Transfers: $217
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels: $244
- Everest Scenic Flight with Window Seat and Transfer: $239
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
- Kathmandu to Pokhara Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
- Kathmandu to Chitwan Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
- Mount Everest Scenic Flight with Guaranteed Window Seat &Transfer: $190
- Buddha Air Mount Everest Experience with Transfers: $190
- Mount Everest Scenic Flight by Buddha Air with Free Transfers: $190
- Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
- Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Nagarkot with return transfers from Kathmandu: $168
- Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $154
- Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $31Kathmandu $13
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 Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.16
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Dinner for Two$2.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- Momo, Dhalbhat & Thukpa Cooking Class, Nepal: $25
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
- Cooking Class with Vyas: $49
- Newari Cooking Class with a Home Chef- From market to the plate.: $50
- Kathmandu Best Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $53
- Authentic Kathmandu Cooking Class and Guided Market Tour: $59
- Half Day Nepal Cooking Class in Thamel: $60
- Cooking Class with HSJ: $60
- Authentic Nepali Dinner with Live Cultural Show: $65
- Nepali Cultural Dinner: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Kathmandu $6.92
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 Walking Tour Old Town, History and Hidden Gems: $15
- Nightlife and Local Food Experience in Dar es Salaam: $20
- Dar es Salaam Swahili City Walking Tour: $25
- Dar es Salaam Masaki Walking Tuk-Tuk Fish Market & Sunset Tour: $30
- Dar es Salaam City Tour: Experience & Insights Tanzanian culture: $41
- Private Sinda Island Tour Snorkeling Swimming and Nature Walk: $65
- Private Mbudya Island Retreat Adventure from Dar Es Salaam: $82
- Zanzibar Spice Farm and Stone Town Tour: $90
- Dar es Salaam Full-Day City Tour and Tanzanian Food Experience: $90
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
- Dar es Salaam City Tour & 360 Degree Revolving Dining Experience: $99
- Dar es Salaam City Walking tour - Explore the Life of the Local People!: $100
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.29
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.23
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.29
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
- 1 Day Kathmandu Heritage 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch: $99
- 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
- 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
- 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
- 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
- 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146
- 2 Days Private Tour from Chitlang to Markhu: $210
- 2 Days and 1 Night Chitwan Safari Tour: $125
- 2 Night 3 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $235
- 2-Days Kathmandu Valley Tour and Visit 7-UNESCO Sites, Homestay: $250
- 20 Ponds Walking Heritage Tour in Bhaktapur: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.49Kathmandu $4.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $50
- Bar Tour and Pub Crawl Sip Stroll Repeat Thamel Night: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Kathmandu, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dar es Salaam is in Africa and Kathmandu is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu.
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 Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Kathmandu?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 87% larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Kathmandu, 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.