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

Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Port Elizabeth?

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 Port Elizabeth can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Port Elizabeth?

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.

Port Elizabeth

Located on the Indian Ocean coastline of South Africa, Port Elizabeth is a major sea port and tourist destination featuring a pleasant climate, opportunities for water sports, historical landmarks, wildlife areas, and clean beaches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, and The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Port Elizabeth or Dar es Salaam?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $460, while the average daily cost in Port Elizabeth is $44. 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 Port Elizabeth in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dar es Salaam $434
    Port Elizabeth $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dar es Salaam $868
    Port Elizabeth $46
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Port Elizabeth

Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Port Elizabeth? 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 Port Elizabeth


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 Port Elizabeth Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dar es Salaam $13
    Port Elizabeth $9.56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam

Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer from JNIA Airport to Hotels in Dar essalaam: $55
  • Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $73
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
  • Sunset Cruise - Magic of Zanzibar Sunset With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100
  • Luxury Coach - Dar Es Salaam Airport Transfer to the City Centre/Out ( 22 max): $113
  • 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 City Tour.(private Guide And Transfer) 10 Hrs: $200
  • Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer by luxury car.: $200

Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Port Elizabeth?

Prices for flights to both Port Elizabeth 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 $18
    Port Elizabeth $14

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 -
    Port Elizabeth $9.37

Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam

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

  • Private Insightful City Tour of Dar es Salaam: $25
  • WOW AFRICA TANZANIA EAST AFRICA TOUR.: $35
  • City Walking Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $41
  • City Historical Walking Tour And Street Food.: $41
  • Guided Dar es salaam walking tours: $43
  • Dar Es Salaam:Shore Excursion Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $46
  • Dar es salaam City Tour & Storytelling: $72
  • Spice tour & Stone Town Zanzibar secrets with Lunch - Zanzibar: $75
  • City Tour: $77
  • Dar es salaam full City tour , unforgettable memory: $77
  • Tanzania Private Swahili culture experience: $80
  • The Best/Top Rated Cultural City Tour in Dar es Salaam : $85

Tours and Activities in Port Elizabeth

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Port Elizabeth are as follows:

  • 7 Day Garden Route Tour- Durban to Cape Town via Addo N Park: $1,543
  • Addo Elephant Park Tours .: $175
  • From 5-Day Garden Route Tour to Cape Town: $543
  • Port Elizabeth City Walking Tour: $44
  • Port Elizabeth tuk-tuk tour, experience the natural beauty.: $70
  • Cape Recife Safari and City Sightseeing Tour: $140
  • Xhosa Township/Cultural Experience: $127

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dar es Salaam $7.66
    Port Elizabeth $2.58


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

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 Port Elizabeth Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Port Elizabeth?

Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Port Elizabeth. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Port Elizabeth, 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 Port Elizabeth?

Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth in the Summer?

Both Port Elizabeth 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.

In the summer, Dar es Salaam is a little warmer than Port Elizabeth. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dar es Salaam in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Port Elizabeth averages at about 22°C (72°F)in January.

In Port Elizabeth, 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 Port Elizabethin January. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Port Elizabeth receives 266 hours of full sun.

Dar es Salaam usually gets less rain in July than Port Elizabethin January. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Port Elizabeth receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Dar es Salaam 25°C (77°F) 
    Port Elizabeth 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Port Elizabeth in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and Port Elizabeth. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round.

In October, Dar es Salaam is generally a little warmer than Port Elizabethin April. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (78°F), and Port Elizabeth fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth during autumn. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Port Elizabeth receives 221 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Port Elizabethin April. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Port Elizabeth receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Dar es Salaam 25°C (78°F) 
    Port Elizabeth 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Port Elizabeth in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as Port Elizabeth. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Port Elizabeth in the winter. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Port Elizabeth fluctuates around 15°C (58°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Port Elizabeth. 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 around the same amount of sunshine as Port Elizabethin July. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Port Elizabeth receives 228 hours of full sun.

Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in January than Port Elizabethin July. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Port Elizabeth receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Dar es Salaam 28°C (82°F) 
    Port Elizabeth 15°C (58°F)

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Port Elizabeth in the Spring?

Both Port Elizabeth 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.

In the spring, Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Port Elizabeth. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dar es Salaam in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Port Elizabeth averages at about 17°C (63°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Port Elizabeth. Dar es Salaam usually receives less sunshine than Port Elizabeth during spring. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Port Elizabeth receives 236 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 Port Elizabethin October. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Port Elizabeth receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Dar es Salaam 27°C (81°F) 
    Port Elizabeth 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Port Elizabeth and Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam Port Elizabeth
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 52 mm (2 in) 22°C (72°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 28°C (83°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 21°C (70°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 19°C (66°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
May 26°C (78°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Jun 24°C (76°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 15°C (58°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Sep 25°C (76°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 16°C (61°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Oct 25°C (78°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 17°C (63°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 21°C (69°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)