A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Entebbe vs. Diani for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Entebbe or Diani?

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 Entebbe and Diani can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Entebbe or Diani?

Entebbe

Entebbe is a large city located in Central Uganda. It is about thirty kilometers from the capital city of Uganda, which is Kampala. Lake Victoria, a prominent body of water, is very close to Entebbe as well. Today, the population of Entebbe is over 69,000 people. In Europe, Entebbe is known for its airport, which was once the site of a major hostage situation led by the German and Palestinian militia, back in 1976. Soldiers from the Israeli army freed the hostages in a massive rescue mission. Alternatively, when Queen Elizabeth II heard of her father's death and that she had become the queen, she was at this airport and had to fly from there back to England at once.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Uganda, The Best 3-Day Tours in Uganda, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.


Which place is cheaper, Diani or Entebbe?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Entebbe is $121, while the average daily cost in Diani is $69. 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 Entebbe and Diani in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Entebbe $43
    Diani $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Entebbe $86
    Diani $46
Compare Hotels in Entebbe and Diani

Looking for a hotel in Entebbe 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.

Hotels in Entebbe


Hotels in Diani


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: Entebbe Hotel Prices and Diani Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Entebbe $19
    Diani $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Entebbe

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Entebbe:

  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani

Also for Diani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Taxi and Airport transfers: $60
  • Private transfer to Diani Beach from Mombasa: $65
  • From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $65
  • Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $75

Is it cheaper to fly into Entebbe or Diani?

Prices for flights to both Diani and Entebbe 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
    Entebbe $59
    Diani $35

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Diani

For Diani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Diani Beach: Special Dinner with a Local: $50
  • A ROMANTIC BEACH BONFIRE DINNER SET UP: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Entebbe $37
    Diani $15

Tours and Activities in Entebbe

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

  • 1-Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $50
  • 1-Day Mabamba Shoebill Birding Tour in Lake Victoria Entebbe: $260
  • 3-Day Best of Uganda Big5 Safari Tour in Murchison Falls NP: $1,090
  • BEST OF ENTEBBE BIKE CYCLING TOUR: $49
  • ENTEBBE MOTOR BIKE TOUR: $100
  • ENTEBBE WALKING TOUR: $50
  • Equatar Line Tour & Victoria Lake Sunset Boat Ride: $175
  • Guided Walking Tour: $26
  • Jinja day tour exploring the source of River Nile: $240
  • Kampala: 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $14
  • Uganda : 1-Day Ngamba Sanctuary for Chimpanzee Tour: $619
  • Uganda: 3-Day Lake Mburo National Park Adventure Tour: $1,090

Tours and Activities in Diani

For Diani, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Stori Baharini: Story telling walking tour in Diani Beach: $10
  • Market and Street Food Walking Tour: $20
  • Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $27
  • Sunset Canoe Tour along the River with Mangroves: $28
  • Diani Beach: Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $28
  • Sunset Cruise along Kongo River on Wooden Canoe boat: $30
  • Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
  • Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $32
  • Diani Beach: Private African Pool Map Guided Tour: $35
  • Samburu: Traditional Activities Experience: $40
  • Diani Beach: Glass Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $42
  • Diani Beach: Kongo River Estuary Sundowner Boat Tour: $42

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Entebbe $13
    Diani $8.88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Entebbe and Diani, we can see that Entebbe is more expensive. And not only is Diani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Diani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Diani 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 Entebbe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Entebbe than you might in Diani.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Entebbe Expensive? and Is Diani Expensive?.