Which place is cheaper, Lake Nakuru or Dar es Salaam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Lake Nakuru?
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 Lake Nakuru can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Lake Nakuru?
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.
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's 23 National Parks, also qualifying as one of the two Premium Parks in the country. Located in central Kenya, about 90 miles west of Nairobi, the area encompasses a large lake as well as the surrounding wooded grasslands. A naturalist's paradise, Lake Nakuru is home to wildlife like flamingos, other water birds, and the black and white rhinoceros.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $460Lake Nakuru $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $460, while the average daily cost in Lake Nakuru is $117. 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 Lake Nakuru in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $434Lake Nakuru $45
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $868Lake Nakuru $90
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Lake Nakuru
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Lake Nakuru? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Lake Nakuru $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
- Sunset Cruise - Magic of Zanzibar Sunset With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam Airport by luxury car: $167
- Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Luxury Car: $167
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $73
- Luxury Coach - Dar Es Salaam Airport Transfer to the City Centre/Out ( 22 max): $113
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer with comfortable car: $192
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (private Guide And Transfer) 9 Hrs : $190
- Airport Transfers To/from Dar Es Salaam City Center Or To/from Your Hotel: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Lake Nakuru?
Prices for flights to both Lake Nakuru 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 dayDar es Salaam $18Lake Nakuru $41
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:
- Private Swahili Cooking Class: $115
- Swahili food Cooking Experience: $150
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Lake Nakuru $37
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 (Full Day With Private Guide And Car): $150
- 3-Day Mikumi Safari Adventure: $636
- 4-Day Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking tour.: $1,600
- Bagamoyo Heritage Adventure: Private Full-Day Cultural Tour: $248
- Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
- Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $187
- Bird Watching Tour to Tegetero Forest 2days 1 night: $205
- City Tour in Dar es salaam, Tanzania: $140
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour: $150
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour. All Must See Things (Private Guide and car) Full day: $220
- Dar Es Salaam Day Trip Tour: $388
- Dar Es Salaam:Shore Excursion Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $46
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.66Lake Nakuru $7.74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Lake Nakuru, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Lake Nakuru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lake Nakuru would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Nakuru 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 Lake Nakuru.
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 Lake Nakuru Expensive?.
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.