Which place is cheaper, Palermo 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 Palermo?
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 Palermo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Palermo?
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.
Palermo
Located on its north coast, Palermo is the capital city of Sicily. The city has a lot to offer visitors who decide to venture to this often overlooked part of Italy. There is an interesting history, some unique and delicious food, and a fascinating culture. Prices in Sicily are generally cheaper than elsewhere in Italy. There are a handful of budget accommodation options and plenty of mid range hotels that are spread throughout the city. The rooms are usually comfortable and clean but as always, read reviews before making your reservation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesPalermo Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $462Palermo $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $462, while the average daily cost in Palermo is $132. 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 Palermo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $424Palermo $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $848Palermo $130
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Palermo
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Palermo? 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 Palermo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Palermo $6.56
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
- Private Airport Transfers in Dar: $60
- Airport Transfers To/from Dar Es Salaam City Center Or To/from Your Hotel: $85
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
- Transfer from dar es salaam to morogoro: $203
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with two way transfers: $250
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Palermo
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Palermo:
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Bus to Monreale$3.49
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Bus From Airport$6.98
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90 Minute Bus Pass$1.51
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Short Taxi Ride$5.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palermo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Palermo:
- From Panoramic Transfer to Monreale in CruiserCar: $406
- From Siracusa Transfer with Piazza Armerina Stop: $348
- Private Transfer DA Palermo to San Vito Lo Capo: $296
- Private Transfer DA Palermo to Trapani: $296
- Palermo DA transfer to Trapani Port or Vinceversa: $272
- Transfer Palermo Airport to Trapani city or vice versa: $243
- Palermo Airport transfers to and from Cefalu One way: $213
- Private airport transfer to Cefalù or Campofelice di Roccella: $204
- Private Transfer from Palermo (PMO) Airport to Santa Flavia: $199
- Private Transfer from Palermo APT to Adler SPA Resort Siculiana: $173
- Private Transfer From Palermo Airport to Palermo City: $153
- Private transfer from Palermo Airport to San Vito Lo Capo or vice versa: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Palermo?
Prices for flights to both Palermo 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 $31Palermo $59
Typical Food Prices in Palermo
Some typical examples of dining costs in Palermo are as follows:
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$37
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Fast Food Lunch$6.19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palermo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Palermo.
- Palermo Sicilian Street Food Tour: Small Group by Do Eat Better: $52
- Palermo Sicilian Street Food Tour: Small Group with a Local: $53
- Walking Tour and street food Tour Palermo / History and Food: $59
- Palermo's Delight: Unleash the Secrets of Pizza and Gelato Making: $62
- Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Flowing Wine: $64
- Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class with Dinner and Wine: $64
- Pizza & Tiramisu Class with Free Flowing Fine Wine: $69
- Palermo : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $69
- Food Tour at the Vucciria Market – Palermo: $73
- Pasta and Gelato Making Class with Dinner and Wine: $74
- Wanna be Sicilian: Palermo Cooking Class and Market Tour: $79
- Authentic Sicilian Dinner with a Local Chef: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Palermo $19
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 Architectural Guided Walking Tour and History: $22
- Dar es Salaam City Tour: Experience & Insights Tanzanian culture: $37
- Visit Sinda island with Samrun Marine Tours: $50
- Beach Day Tour with Resort Access: $65
- Private Mbudya Island Retreat Adventure from Dar Es Salaam: $82
- Private Tour to Jozani Forest Reserve Half-Day Guided Tour from Zanzibar: $90
- The Best/Top Rated Cultural City Tour in Dar es Salaam: $90
- Jozani forest, Salaam Cave & The Rock Restaurant Tour in Zanzibar: $95
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
- Dar es Salaam City Walking tour - Explore the Life of the Local People!: $100
- Full Day Private Tour in Dar es Salaam City: $104
- Zanzibar Spice Tour: $109
Typical Entertainment Prices in Palermo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Palermo are as follows:
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Capuchin Catacombs (for 2)$6.98
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Castello della Zisa Entrance (for Two)$14
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Theater Tickets (for Two)$57
Tours and Activities in Palermo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Palermo are as follows:
- "Sun Life Surf: Excitement, fun, and surfing: the perfect experience!" ️.: $47
- Agrigento Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale Tour from Palermo: $144
- All-inclusive yacht tour in the beautiful Bay of Mondello: $175
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $93
- Capuchin Catacombs and Monreale Cathedral Private Tour: $256
- Discover MtPellegrino with a PRIVATE Guided Bike Tour: $105
- Discover the Charm of A 3-Hour UNESCO Sites Walking Tour: $36
- Duca di Salaparuta Winery: Duke's Excellences Tour: $70
- Exclusive Boat Tour Along the Palermo Coast Baia Mondello: $166
- From Cefalù: Palermo & Monreale Cathedral Tour: $70
- From Palermo Sicilian Retreat Erice & Marsala Tour with Lunch: $146
- From Archaeological Park Tour of Selinunte and Mazara del Vallo: $454
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.48Palermo $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Palermo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Palermo:
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Beer$2.98
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Bottle of Quality Wine$13
Sample the Local Flavors in Palermo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Palermo:
- Guided Bar Crawl with Shots and Discounts on Drinks: $19
- Sicilian wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres in an 18th century palace: $42
- Sicilian Wine Tasting with Local Food in Palermo: $47
- Wine Tasting with Sicilian Tapas: $50
- Wine Tasting with Snacks at Bottega Monteleone: $51
- Etna Experience - Wine tasting and food pairing: $58
- Sicily Experience - Wine tasting and food pairing: $58
- Natural Wine Tasting with snacks at Bottega Monteleone: $64
- Eating Evening Food & Wine Tour: $99
- Palermo on a plate: Mamma's classics and Wine tour: $104
- Street Food and Wine Tour With an Architect: $116
- 2-Hour Sicilian Cheese and Wine Tasting Tour: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Palermo, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Palermo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dar es Salaam is in Africa and Palermo 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 Palermo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Palermo 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 Palermo.
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 Palermo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Palermo?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Palermo. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Palermo, 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 Palermo?
Palermo 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 Palermo in the Summer?
Both Palermo 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. Also, many visitors come to Palermo in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Dar es Salaam is generally around the same temperature as Palermo. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (77°F), and Palermo fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).
In Palermo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dar es Salaam. In the summer, Dar es Salaam often gets less sunshine than Palermo. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Palermo receives 347 hours of full sun.
Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in July than Palermo. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Palermo receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDar es Salaam 25°C (77°F)Palermo 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Palermo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and Palermo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round. Also, most visitors come to Palermo for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Dar es Salaam is a little warmer than Palermo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Palermo fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Palermo 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 Palermo during autumn. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Palermo receives 204 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Palermo. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Palermo receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDar es Salaam 25°C (78°F)Palermo 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Palermo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as Palermo. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Palermo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Palermo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dar es Salaam in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Palermo averages at about 12°C (53°F).
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 more sunshine than Palermo. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Palermo receives 133 hours of full sun.
Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in January than Palermo. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Palermo receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDar es Salaam 28°C (82°F)Palermo 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Palermo in the Spring?
Both Palermo 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. Also, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Palermo this time of year.
In April, Dar es Salaam is generally much warmer than Palermo. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 27°C (81°F), and Palermo fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
It's quite sunny in Palermo. Dar es Salaam usually receives less sunshine than Palermo during spring. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Palermo receives 219 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Dar es Salaam. In April, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Palermo. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Palermo receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDar es Salaam 27°C (81°F)Palermo 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Palermo and Dar es Salaam
| Dar es Salaam | Palermo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 65 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.6 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.