Should you visit Kampala or Accra?
Should I visit Kampala or Accra? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.
Accra
Accra is the capital city of Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Popular attractions include the National Museum of Ghana, local beaches, markets, and cultural landmarks like those dedicated to Civil Rights activist W.E.B. DuBois.
Which city is cheaper, Accra or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $59, while the average daily cost in Accra is $67. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Kampala and Accra in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $50. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Kampala the cost is $100 on average.
A hotel room in Accra is about $68 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
The average traveler spends about $7.17 per day in Kampala for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Accra food costs typically run travelers around $17 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kampala $7.17
Accra $17
Typical Food prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
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Cooking class for typical Ugandan food:
$31
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Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours):
$56
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Kampala City Walking Food Tour:
$77
-
Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour:
$91
-
Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop:
$102
-
Amazing Race - Food Tour:
$103
-
Kampala cooking tour:
$133
-
Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours):
$147
-
Kampala food tour:
$205
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Accra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Accra.
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Full-Day Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra:
$32
-
Local Food Tour In Ghana:
$37
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Accra Markets and Ghana Food Tour:
$56
-
Private Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra:
$59
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Home Cooking Class by Auntie K:
$78
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Market Tour, Cooking Class with Lunch:
$231
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Kampala is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $2.13 per person, per day, on local transportation in Kampala.
The average price of local transportation around Accra is $29 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
-
Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda:
$146
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Accra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Accra:
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Aburi Garden Tour And Transfer:
$120
-
Aburi Gardens Transfers:
$133
-
Airport & City Transfers:
$67
-
Airport & City Transfers:
$93
-
Arrival Transfer From Accra Airport To Hotel:
$36
-
Historic Slave Walking Tour of Jamestown with Transfers:
$127
-
Private Transfer from Accra City to Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC):
$124
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Private Transfer from Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC) to Accra city:
$124
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Accra?
Prices for flights to both Accra and Kampala 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.
Entertainment
Accra's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $6.02 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Free Female Guided Walking Tours Kampala (3 Hours):
$10
-
Uganda Community Tour:
$15
-
Banange Brewing Company Tour:
$15
-
African Fabric Market Tour:
$18
-
Private 3-Hour Uganda Craft Shopping Tour from Entebbe:
$20
-
Running City Tour of Kampala at Dawn (7 KMs | Sundays):
$20
-
The food experience - Authentic Ugandan food:
$21
-
Kampala Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Optional Gaddafi Mosque Visit:
$25
-
Like a Local Food Tasting & Cultural Tour (6 Hours):
$26
-
Steve Kampala Walking tours:
$27
-
3 Hours Walking Tour in Kampala:
$27
-
3 Hours Kampala Walking Tour:
$28
Tours and Activities in Accra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Accra are as follows:
-
Quabus Accra City Tour:
$20
-
Slave Forts of Accra Walking Tour:
$39
-
Half-Day Old and New Accra Urban Experience Walking Tour:
$39
-
Accra Architectural Discovery Walking Tour:
$41
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Makola Market Walking Tour:
$41
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Artistic Side of Industrious Guided Half-Day Tour:
$44
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Accra Markets Explorer Half-Day Tour:
$46
-
Accra city tour:
$48
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Accra City Tours:
$50
-
1 Day Accra City Tour:
$51
-
Accra Sites Tour Expeditions:
$57
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Eco Village Adventure Cultural Tour:
$58
Alcohol
The average person spends about $8.63 on alcoholic beverages in Accra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
-
Pub Crawl Kampala (6 Hours):
$20
-
Kampala Pub Crawl:
$60
When comparing the travel costs between Kampala and Accra, we can see that Accra 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.
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