Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna?
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 La Fortuna can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna?
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.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $462La Fortuna $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $462, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $136. 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 La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $424La Fortuna $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $848La Fortuna $112
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna? 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 La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13La Fortuna $23
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: $10
- Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR) Private Transfer to Dar es Salaam: $50
- Half-Day City Tour with Transfers: $59
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Dar es salaam Airport Transfer (Private & Group): $60
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $104
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with two way transfers: $249
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Puerto Viejo de Limon: $500
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- Private VIP Transfer La Fortuna to Tamarindo, Flamingo & Conchal: $299
- Private Transfer to Manuel Antonio & Crocodiles: $295
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna: $295
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Arenal La Fortuna: $290
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Bijagua: $285
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna: $285
- From Private Transfer to Tamarindo & Conchal: $279
- San Jose Airport: Private transfer from/to La Fortuna: $270
- Private Transfer from Arenal La Fortuna to San Jose Airport: $255
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna 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 $31La Fortuna $52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Traditional cooking lesson with a local family: $37
- Arenal Volcano Hike Hot Springs and Dinner with Transportation: $45
- Farm to Table Cooking Class: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $50
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience: $60
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Arenal Boat Tour & Pirate Hot Springs Dinner: $69
- Sloth Tour with Cane Juice and Cooking Class: $70
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $70
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -La Fortuna $48
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 Tour: Experience & Insights Tanzanian culture: $36
- Beach Day Tour with Resort Access: $65
- Private Mbudya Island Retreat Adventure from Dar Es Salaam: $81
- Private Tour to Jozani Forest Reserve Half-Day Guided Tour from Zanzibar: $90
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
- Full Day Private Tour in Dar es Salaam City: $104
- Zanzibar Spice Tour: $109
- Stone Town & Spice Tour: $110
- Bagamoyo Tour: $120
- The Best/Top Rated Cultural City Tour in Dar es Salaam: $125
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Visit all attractive places: $130
- Jozani forest, Salaam Cave & The Rock Restaurant Tour in Zanzibar: $139
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- 12-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls: $115
- 2-in-1 Arenal Coffee and Chocolate Tour: $75
- 3-Hour Arenal Lake Flexi Pass Adventure In Costa Rica: $73
- 5-Day Pura Vida Adventure: Volcano and Jungle in Costa Rica: $1,099
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $1,850
- 7-Cable Zipline Adventure: Fly Over La Fortuna Waterfall: $84
- 7-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall: $95
- A day of Arenal Adventure 1968 and Spring: $96
- ARENAL FORTUNA CITY TOUR .: $30
- ATV Tour Quad Crater Impact and Forest Arenal Volcano: $113
- ATV Tour near Arenal Volcano, Jungle, and River Crossing: $165
- ATV Tour: Adventure tour in La Fortuna: $161
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.48La Fortuna $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and La Fortuna, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dar es Salaam is in Africa and La Fortuna is in Central America, 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 La Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna.
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 La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 900 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and La Fortuna, 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.
When is the best time to visit Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna in the Summer?
Both La Fortuna and Dar es Salaam during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dar es Salaam because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dar es Salaam usually gets less rain in July than La Fortuna. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Dar es Salaam. In the summer, Dar es Salaam often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Dar es Salaam is cooler than La Fortuna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dar es Salaam in July average around 25°C (77°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDar es Salaam 25°C (77°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna. La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Dar es Salaam usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Dar es Salaam, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dar es Salaam usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during autumn. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Dar es Salaam is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (78°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDar es Salaam 25°C (78°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as La Fortuna. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in January than La Fortuna. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dar es Salaam this time of the year. In the winter, Dar es Salaam often gets less sunshine than La Fortuna. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun.
Dar es Salaam is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the winter. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDar es Salaam 28°C (82°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or La Fortuna in the Spring?
Both La Fortuna and Dar es Salaam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dar es Salaam throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in La Fortuna is December to April. May to November in La Fortuna is the hurricane season. It's quite rainy in Dar es Salaam. In April, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. Dar es Salaam usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during spring. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Dar es Salaam is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dar es Salaam in April average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDar es Salaam 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Dar es Salaam
| Dar es Salaam | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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.