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

Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Masai Mara?

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 Masai Mara can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Masai Mara?

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.

Masai Mara

Masai Mara National Reserve is a beautiful, scenic, nature reserve in southwest Kenya, just west of the capital city, Nairobi. The reserve belongs to the Masai people and was created in order to protect the land and the people and animals living on it. Masai Mara is considered to be one of the best reserves in all of Africa, offering the quintessential African safari experience.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, and The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya.


Which place is cheaper, Masai Mara 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.

  • Dar es Salaam Prices
    Tanzania Prices
    Masai Mara Prices
    Kenya Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Dar es Salaam $435
    Masai Mara $134

The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $435, while the average daily cost in Masai Mara is $134. 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 Masai Mara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dar es Salaam $410
    Masai Mara $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dar es Salaam $820
    Masai Mara $74
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Masai Mara

Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Masai Mara? 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 Masai Mara


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 Masai Mara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dar es Salaam $13
    Masai Mara $48

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 - Airport Transfers & City Centre Shuttles: $50
  • Airport Transfer from JNIA Airport to Hotels in Dar essalaam: $55
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer Services & Beyond: $68
  • Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $74
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
  • Daressalaam: Airport & Hotel Transfers: $79
  • Zanzibar Sunset Cruise: Magical Views with Transfers - Zanzibar: $91
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam Airport DAR by Business Car: $100
  • Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Luxury Car: $167
  • Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer with comfortable car: $192
  • Dar Es Salaam City Tour.(private Guide And Transfer) 10 Hrs: $200

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:

  • Airport Transfers: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Masai Mara?

Prices for flights to both Masai Mara 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 $17
    Masai Mara $57

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:

  • Tanzania: traditional Swahili cooking class: $45
  • Private Swahili Cooking Class: $115
  • Swahili food Cooking Experience: $150

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.

  • Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience : $68

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dar es Salaam -
    Masai Mara $61

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 Center: Walking Tour: $20
  • Dar es salaam City Guided Walking Tour Experience: $23
  • City Centre Exploration And Discovery Tours.: $28
  • Private Insightful City Tour of Dar es Salaam: $30
  • WOW AFRICA TANZANIA EAST AFRICA TOUR.: $35
  • Dar es Salaam City Sightseeing And Discovery Guided Tour..: $40
  • Dar es salaam City Guided Tour & Storytelling: $41
  • Dar Es Salam City: Children's Homes Visit & Donation Tour.: $41
  • Dar Es Salaam :City Historical & Sightseeing Guided Tour.: $41
  • City Walking Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $41
  • Guided Dar es salaam walking tours: $43
  • Walking Tour Dar es Salaam City: $43

Tours and Activities in Masai Mara

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:

  • 1Day Tour Nairobi Park ,Giraffe Center,karen Blixxen Guided tour: $50
  • 5 hours Nairobi national park Private tour: $150
  • Kibera Slum Guided Tour from Nairobi: $97
  • 3-Days Maasai Mara Camping Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $285
  • 5 Hour Private Tour Nairobi National Park Or Evening Game Drive: $100
  • 6 Hour Tour to Nairobi National by Jeep: $254
  • 6 Hours Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center Tour: $48
  • Airport Layover Tour to Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center: $225
  • Amboseli National Park Day Tour from Nairobi: $150
  • Cultural Day Tour to Bomas of Kenya Nairobi: $51
  • Day Tour To Mt. Kenya : $285
  • Day Tour at Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Centre: $78

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dar es Salaam $7.25
    Masai Mara $27


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

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 Masai Mara Expensive?.