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

Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Leiden?

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 Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Leiden?

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.

Leiden

Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.


Which place is cheaper, Leiden 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 $463, while the average daily cost in Leiden is $184. 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 Leiden in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dar es Salaam $424
    Leiden $88
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dar es Salaam $848
    Leiden $176
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Leiden

Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Leiden? 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 Leiden


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 Leiden Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dar es Salaam $13
    Leiden $29

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
  • Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
  • Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
  • Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $50
  • Private Airport Transfers in Dar: $60
  • Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
  • Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
  • Half-Day City Tour with Transfers: $59
  • Dar es Salaam Aya Sophia Wildlife, Beach, Lunch and Transfers: $217
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden

Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Leiden & Delft: Half-Day Private Tour including Transfer: $252
  • Premium electric transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $97

Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Leiden?

Prices for flights to both Leiden 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 $31
    Leiden $76

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dar es Salaam -
    Leiden $20

Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.

  • 2 Days 1 Night Bagamoyo Historical Tour: $300
  • Ancient Bagamoyo City Day Tour: $249
  • Bagamoyo Full-Day Tour: Historic Slave Market & Kaole Ruins: $280
  • Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
  • Bagamoyo Tour: $120
  • Dar Es Salaam City Tour (Full Day With Private Guide And Car): $250
  • Dar Es Salaam Local Markets and Village-National Museum Day tour: $150
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour & 360 Degree Revolving Dining Experience: $99
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour - Visit all attractive places: $130
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour Full Day Adventure with Lunch: $150
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour: Experience & Insights Tanzanian culture: $41

Tours and Activities in Leiden

For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 90 minutes Self-Guided Walking tour with puzzles in Leiden: $22
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
  • Cruise with Keukenhof Entrance Ticket in Amsterdam Lakes: $45
  • Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $31
  • Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $41
  • Escape Tours® Leiden - Self-guided citygame. Find the exit!: $34
  • Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $281
  • Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $348
  • Leiden Outdoor Escape Game: Self-Guided City Adventure: $23
  • Leiden Photography Workshop and Historic Photo Walking Tour: $45
  • Leiden Private Canal Boat Tour with Drinks and Snacks: $154
  • Leiden Self-Guided Detective Mystery Game Tour: $27

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dar es Salaam $7.49
    Leiden $29


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Leiden, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dar es Salaam is in Africa and Leiden is in Europe, 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 Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Leiden.

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 Leiden Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Leiden?

Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Leiden, 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 Leiden?

Leiden has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dar es Salaam experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Leiden in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and Leiden. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Leiden this time of year.

In July, Dar es Salaam is generally a little warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (77°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leiden this time of the year. In Dar es Salaam, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dar es Salaam usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during summer. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Dar es Salaam usually receives less rain than Leiden. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dar es Salaam 25°C (77°F) 
    Leiden 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Leiden in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as Leiden. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Leiden for the shopping scene.

Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Leiden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dar es Salaam this time of the year. In the autumn, Dar es Salaam often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun.

Dar es Salaam usually gets less rain in October than Leiden. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dar es Salaam 25°C (78°F) 
    Leiden 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Leiden in the Winter?

Both Leiden and Dar es Salaam are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dar es Salaam throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Leiden in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Leiden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dar es Salaam in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Leiden averages at about 2°C (36°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during winter. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Leiden. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dar es Salaam 28°C (82°F) 
    Leiden 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Leiden in the Spring?

Both Leiden and Dar es Salaam during the spring 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.

In April, Dar es Salaam is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 27°C (81°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, Dar es Salaam often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in April than Leiden. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dar es Salaam 27°C (81°F) 
    Leiden 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Leiden and Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam Leiden
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 52 mm (2 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 28°C (83°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 26°C (78°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 24°C (76°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 25°C (76°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 25°C (78°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)