Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Jinja?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jinja or Johannesburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jinja or Johannesburg, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Jinja or Johannesburg?
Jinja
Jinja is a city located at the source of the Nile in Uganda, Africa. Many backpackers travel to Jinja, as it is known for its white water rafting. This city is the third largest economy in all of the East African Community. It has a population of about 72,000 people.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Uganda, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Uganda, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJinja $92Johannesburg $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Jinja is $92, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $94. 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 Jinja and Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJinja $44Johannesburg $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJinja $88Johannesburg $108
Compare Hotels in Jinja and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Jinja or Johannesburg? 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: Jinja Hotel Prices and Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jinja $22Johannesburg $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Transfers Between Lanseria Airport And Johannesburg : $43
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure JNB - Airport Transfers: $65
- 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $34
- Airport To Suncity Transfer And Return: $400
- Apartheid Museum Private Transfers: $43
- Arrival Private Transfer JNB Airport to Johannesburg, Pretoria or SunCity by Van: $73
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Business Car: $61
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $72
- Comfort Private Airport Transfer: OR Tambo Airport (JNB): $38
- Departure Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Business Car: $61
- Departure Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $71
- Executive Airport Transfers - OR Tambo to Sandton : $176
Is it cheaper to fly into Jinja or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg and Jinja 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 dayJinja $28Johannesburg $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $40
- Taste of Africa Food Tour: $51
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $96
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $213
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jinja $29Johannesburg $21
Tours and Activities in Jinja
Here are a few actual costs in Jinja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Banana Kayak Experience in Bubugo with Lunch: $25
- Half-Day Jinja Walking Tour: Source of Nile & Boat Ride Options: $31
- Guided Walking Tour with Optional Source of the Nile: $31
- David's Shared Walking Tour in Jinja with a Local Cultural Meal: $40
- Three days source of the nile & sipi falls tour: $760
- White Water Rafting & Source of the Nile Adventure: $760
- 3days jinja and sipi falls tour: $800
- Uganda: 4 Day Jinja City Tour Uganda: $1,655
- 18 Days African Jungle Safari Tour: $9,433
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Johannesburg Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto: $16
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $16
- Architectural Walking Tour: $19
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $24
- Braamfontein Street Art Tour: $24
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $27
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $29
- Colours of A Graffiti & Street Art Tour: $29
- Johannesburg Street Art & Museum Walking or E-scooter Tour : $29
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $29
- A Day Of Soweto Food & Beer Tour: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJinja $13Johannesburg $4.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.02
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $112
- Experience Johannesburg Wine Tour Views and Luxury: $225
When comparing the travel costs between Jinja and Johannesburg, we can see that Johannesburg 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 Jinja Expensive? and Is Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jinja or Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Jinja. When comparing the sizes of Jinja and Johannesburg, 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.