Which place is cheaper, Soweto or Dar es Salaam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Soweto?
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 Soweto can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Soweto?
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.
Soweto
The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg. It is a city of contrasts, featuring anything from tin shanties to luxurious mansions, and is probably best known for being the home of two Nobel Prize winners.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to South Africa, and The Best G Adventures Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $433Soweto $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $433, while the average daily cost in Soweto is $67. 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 Soweto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $408Soweto $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $816Soweto $68
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Soweto
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Soweto? 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Soweto $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 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
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $75
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Daressalaam: Airport & Hotel Transfers: $79
- Dar es salaam Airport Transfer (Private & Group): $50
- 1 Day Mikumi Safari (SGR VIP Train Transfer): $340
- 1 Day Mikumi Safari (SGR VIP Train Transfer): $356
- Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar: Airport Transfer to the Hotel: $70
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer Services & Beyond: $68
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour.(private Guide And Transfer) 10 Hrs: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Soweto?
Prices for flights to both Soweto 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 $17Soweto $22
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Soweto $17
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): $160
- Private Tour with Car and City Bus and Ferry in Dar Es Salaam : $77
- ½-Day Dar City Cycling Tour: $150
- 1 DAY EXPERIENCE SAFARI TO MIKUMI FROM DAR ES SALAAM BY CAR: $370
- 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT MIKUMI SAFARI ADVENTURE FROM DAR ER SALAAM: $480
- 2 DAYS ADVENTURE TO MIKUMI BY LUXURY TRAIN FROM DAR-ES-SALAM: $380
- 2 DAYS SAFARI ADVENTURE TO MIKUMI N. PARK FROM DAR ES SALAAM: $470
- 2 Days 1 Night Amazing Maasai Tour & Mikumi National Park: $400
- 2 Days 1 Night Bagamoyo Historical Tour : $300
- 2 Days Saadani National park tour Package for 2024 and 2025: $715
- 3 DAYS ADVENTURE FROM DAR-ES-SALAAM TO MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK: $480
- 3 DAYS SAFARI ADVENTURE TO MIKUMI PARK FROM DAR ES SALAAM: $480
Tours and Activities in Soweto
For Soweto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $63
- Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $103
- Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.21Soweto $8.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Soweto, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Soweto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Soweto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Soweto 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 Soweto.
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 Soweto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Soweto?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Soweto. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Soweto, 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.
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.