Which place is cheaper, Addis Ababa or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kampala or Addis Ababa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Addis Ababa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kampala or Addis Ababa?
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.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.
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Kampala Prices
Uganda PricesAddis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $77Addis Ababa $28
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $77, while the average daily cost in Addis Ababa is $28. 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 Kampala and Addis Ababa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $60Addis Ababa $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $120Addis Ababa $30
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Addis Ababa
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Addis Ababa? 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: Kampala Hotel Prices and Addis Ababa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.54Addis Ababa $2.77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Jinja 1 Day Source of River Nile Tour with Transfers: $250
- Full-Day Kampala City Highlights Tour, Lunch & private Transfers: $156
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
- Airport Pick-Up and Transfers by Globetrotters Africa: $69
- The best Half day Kampala City Tour with Transfers: $65
- Private Airport & In-Country Transfers in Central Uganda: $60
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $23
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $23
- Addis Ababa Layover Tour: Mercato Market & Airport Transfer: $77
- Bole International Airport to Addis Ababa Private Transfer: $30
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- Private Addis Ababa Airport Transfer: $55
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Addis Ababa?
Prices for flights to both Addis Ababa 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKampala $15Addis Ababa $11
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
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Lunch for 2$1.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Matoke Moments Kampala Food Tour 12+ Tastings: $49
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $99
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $119
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa
For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Addis Eats Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $49
- Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $54
- Flavors of Ethiopia: Hands-On Cooking Class in Addis Ababa: $55
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Addis Ababa Ethiopian cooking class Airport & hotel pick up: $68
- Addis Ababa Food Tour: Eat Like a Local: $70
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $70
- Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $75
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $76
- Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $77
- Addis Ababa Private City Tour with Immersive Cooking Class Lunch: $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Addis Ababa $2.86
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Jinja Source of the Nile Tour: $290
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
- 1 Day Shoebill Stork and Birding Experience: $190
- 1 Day Uganda Equator Tour From Kampala To Kayabwe: $200
- 1 day Uganda Equator Experience: $200
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
- 1-Day Jinja & River Nile Tour(Women-Guided-Experience): $179
- 1/2 Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tour: $130
- 2-Hours Village Walk and Lake Victoria cruise from Kampala: $35
- 2-Hours village walk and Lake Victoria cruise from Entebbe: $35
- 3 Hours Walking Tour in Kampala: $28
- African Fabric Market Tour: $13
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Museums Day Tours in Addis Ababa Day Tour by NIA Media: $9.99
- Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Tour: $30
- 5 hours Addis Ababa Layover city tour: $36
- Layover in Addis Ababa 5 hours tour: $38
- Sightseeing Walking Tour: $40
- Open-bus Tour and Cycling: $41
- Local Food Open Market, City Tours & More.: $42
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa Cultural Discovery Tour: $42
- Merkato Addis Ababa Guided Tour: $42
- Mercato Market Guided Tour with Coffee Tasting: $43
- Explores the Heart of Addis Ababa city tour: $44
- Entoto hill and Mercato Market layover tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Addis Ababa $2.36
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
- Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Addis Ababa, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Kampala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kampala than you might in Addis Ababa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Addis Ababa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Addis Ababa, 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.