Which place is cheaper, Pretoria or Jinja?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jinja or Pretoria?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jinja or Pretoria, 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 Pretoria?
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.
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Uganda, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Uganda, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJinja $92Pretoria $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Jinja is $92, while the average daily cost in Pretoria is $49. 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 Pretoria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJinja $44Pretoria $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJinja $88Pretoria $50
Compare Hotels in Jinja and Pretoria
Looking for a hotel in Jinja or Pretoria? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jinja $22Pretoria $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gauteng, South Africa: Airport transfers, shuttle services: $26
- One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $86
- Sun City Private Transfer: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Jinja or Pretoria?
Prices for flights to both Pretoria 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 $28Pretoria $15
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jinja $29Pretoria $14
Tours and Activities in Jinja
Here are a few actual costs in Jinja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 18 Days African Jungle Safari Tour: $9,433
- 3days jinja and sipi falls tour: $800
- David's Shared Walking Tour in Jinja with a Local Cultural Meal: $40
- 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
- Three days source of the nile & sipi falls tour: $760
- Uganda: 4 Day Jinja City Tour Uganda: $1,655
- White Water Rafting & Source of the Nile Adventure: $760
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harties Cableway Experience Ticket: $16
- Private 1 hour Cruise on Hartebeespoort Dam: $29
- Soweto walking tour with a taxi ride: $32
- History Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $38
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $50
- Johannesburg guided city tour: $51
- Private local authentic soweto Moto taxi experience : $52
- Pretoria Tour - Voortrekker Monument, Union Buildings, Pretoria : $53
- Soweto and Johannesburg Tours: $53
- Johannesburg Walking Tours: $54
- Johannesburg and Soweto guided tour: $54
- Soweto Township Tour from Johannesburg - Friday Special: $56
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJinja $13Pretoria $31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jinja and Pretoria, we can see that Jinja is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jinja Expensive? and Is Pretoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jinja or Pretoria?
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Jinja. When comparing the sizes of Jinja and Pretoria, 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.