Which place is cheaper, Diani or Durban?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Durban or Diani?
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 Diani. 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 Diani?
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.
Diani
Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurban $52Diani $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Durban is $52, while the average daily cost in Diani is $55. 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 Diani in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurban $24Diani $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurban $48Diani $48
Compare Hotels in Durban and Diani
Looking for a hotel in Durban or Diani? 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 Diani Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durban $13Diani $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $106
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $485
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani
Also for Diani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $70
- From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Durban or Diani?
Prices for flights to both Diani 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 $16Diani $20
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durban $16Diani $15
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 1/2 Day Durban City & Phezulu Tour From Durban: $145
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $143
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $113
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $142
- 1/2 Day Phezulu Safari Tour from Durban: $146
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $147
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park Tour from Durban: $147
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $155
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $148
- 12 Days Best Of South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to CapeTown: $3,257
- 15 Day Tour Cape Town to Johannesburg: $3,257
- 2 Day Hluhluwe Imfolo & Isimangaliso W/Park Tour from Durban: $616
Tours and Activities in Diani
For Diani, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 day Shimba Hills Tour: $185
- 3 nights Vipingo Golf Safari & Flight Tour: $1,575
- 7 Days Safari Kenya Classic with Beach Tour Package: $4,595
- Day & Night Life Tour At Diani: $40
- Diani Beach: 2-Hour Glass Bottom-Boat Cruise: $22
- Diani Beach: Children's Homes Visit And Donation Tour.: $36
- Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
- Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $30
- Diani Beach: Village tour on a bike with hotel pick-up: $57
- Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $25
- Sunset Canoe Tour along the River with Mangroves: $28
- Duruma Traditional Wedding Demo, Village Tour and Dance Show: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurban $13Diani $9.04
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Diani
Also in Diani, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Diani,Mombasa Nightlife And Pub Crawling Guided Tour.: $43
When comparing the travel costs between Durban and Diani, we can see that Diani is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Durban Expensive? and Is Diani Expensive?.
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.