A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jinja vs. Port Elizabeth for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Jinja or Port Elizabeth?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jinja or Port Elizabeth, 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 Port Elizabeth?

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.

Port Elizabeth

Located on the Indian Ocean coastline of South Africa, Port Elizabeth is a major sea port and tourist destination featuring a pleasant climate, opportunities for water sports, historical landmarks, wildlife areas, and clean beaches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Uganda, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Uganda, The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, and The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Port Elizabeth or Jinja?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jinja is $92, while the average daily cost in Port Elizabeth is $44. 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 Port Elizabeth in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jinja $44
    Port Elizabeth $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jinja $88
    Port Elizabeth $46
Compare Hotels in Jinja and Port Elizabeth

Looking for a hotel in Jinja or Port Elizabeth? 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 Jinja


Hotels in Port Elizabeth


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 Port Elizabeth Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jinja $22
    Port Elizabeth $9.56

Is it cheaper to fly into Jinja or Port Elizabeth?

Prices for flights to both Port Elizabeth 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Jinja $28
    Port Elizabeth $14

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jinja $29
    Port Elizabeth $9.37

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 Port Elizabeth

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

  • Port Elizabeth City Walking Tour: $45
  • Port Elizabeth tuk-tuk tour, experience the natural beauty.: $72
  • Xhosa Township/Cultural Experience: $131
  • Cape Recife Safari and City Sightseeing Tour: $144
  • Addo Elephant Park Tours .: $180
  • From 5-Day Garden Route Tour to Cape Town: $349
  • 7 Day Garden Route Tour- Durban to Cape Town via Addo N Park: $1,493

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jinja $13
    Port Elizabeth $2.58


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

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


Which is Bigger, Jinja or Port Elizabeth?

Port Elizabeth has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Jinja. When comparing the sizes of Jinja and Port Elizabeth, 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.