Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Durban?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Durban or Antananarivo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Durban and Antananarivo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Durban or Antananarivo?
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
Antananarivo
Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurban $52Antananarivo $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Durban is $52, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $72. 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 Durban and Antananarivo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurban $24Antananarivo $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurban $48Antananarivo $60
Compare Hotels in Durban and Antananarivo
Looking for a hotel in Durban or Antananarivo? 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: Durban Hotel Prices and Antananarivo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durban $13Antananarivo $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $45
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $106
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $485
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:
- Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Durban or Antananarivo?
Prices for flights to both Antananarivo and Durban 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 dayDurban $16Antananarivo $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.
- Street food and Cooking class tour in Antananarivo: $163
- Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durban $16Antananarivo $24
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise: $5.18
- 1-Hour Boat Cruise from Wilson's Wharf: $7.77
- Durban Point Waterfront: Luxury Canal Boat Cruise: $7.77
- Luxury Canal Boat Cruise - Fun Things Durban Ushaka: $8.29
- Magical Gondola Night Boat Cruise in Durban: $8.56
- Pontoon Boat Harbor Cruise: $9.84
- Durban Walking Tour: $26
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Tour: $39
- Durban Half-Day City Tour - Golden Mile, Botanical Gardens: $41
- Durban:Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $49
- Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $51
- Durban Shore Excursion: Private Small Group Durban City Tour: $63
Tours and Activities in Antananarivo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:
- 3 days -Wildlife and Lemur discovery Tour to Andasibe: $682
- Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
- Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
- Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $23
- Day - Tour Ampefy: $144
- Day tour discovery Tour to Ampefy village: $272
- From 9 days unique adventure trip to Tulear: $1,971
- Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $201
- Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
- Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
- Madagascar Adventures on Tana, West, East, North, and South: $2,550
- Madagascar: Andasibe and Nosy Be Tour in one week: $2,240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurban $13Antananarivo $9.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durban and Antananarivo, we can see that Antananarivo is more expensive. And not only is Durban much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durban would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durban 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 Antananarivo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antananarivo than you might in Durban.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Durban Expensive? and Is Antananarivo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Durban or Antananarivo?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the sizes of Durban and Antananarivo, 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.