Which place is cheaper, Antsiranana or Durban?
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 Durban or Antsiranana?
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 Antsiranana. 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 Antsiranana?
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.
Antsiranana
Antsiranana is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Diana, and until 1975 it was known as Diego Suarez. The city has a port that has become a site for naval repairs and is the largest in the entire Indian Ocean. The port is mainly used for tinned fish and bottled drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The city has a population of a little over 100,000. The French used the city as a military base after independence from 1960 until 1973, after the socialist revolution.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar.
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Durban Prices
South Africa PricesAntsiranana Prices
Madagascar Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurban $64Antsiranana $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Durban is $64, while the average daily cost in Antsiranana is $115. 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 Antsiranana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurban $25Antsiranana $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurban $50Antsiranana $86
Compare Hotels in Durban and Antsiranana
Looking for a hotel in Durban or Antsiranana? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durban $13Antsiranana $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $111
- Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $45
- Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $48
- Private Durban Airport Departure Transfer: $62
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Durban airport to Durban city transfer: $39
- Durban Private Airport Arrival Transfer: $62
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $105
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers : $48
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Durban or Antsiranana?
Prices for flights to both Antsiranana 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 $28Antsiranana $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antsiranana
For Antsiranana, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: COOKING CLASS: $75
- MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: STREETFOOD TOUR: $76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durban $16Antsiranana $19
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 1 Day Safari Isimangaliso - Boat Cruise & Game Drive Fr Durban : $195
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $125
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $180
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $180
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $180
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $171
- 5-Day Zululand Tour of Drakensberg, Hluhluwe & Isimangaliso: $1,470
- A Full Day Safari Tour to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve: $192
- Battle of Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift Battle Day Tour From Durban: $193
- Battle of Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift, 1 Day Tour from Durban: $196
- Battle of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift Full Day Tour from Durban : $241
- Battlefield Tour, Duration : 14hrs, Cost : R4390pp -2/more trav.: $248
Tours and Activities in Antsiranana
For Antsiranana, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: CITY TOUR: $63
- Visit the Tsingy rouge: cruise ship excursions in Antsiranana: $151
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurban $13Antsiranana $9.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durban and Antsiranana, we can see that Antsiranana 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 Antsiranana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antsiranana 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 Antsiranana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Durban or Antsiranana?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Antsiranana. When comparing the sizes of Durban and Antsiranana, 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.