A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kampala vs. Alexandria for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kampala or Alexandria?

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

Should I visit Kampala or Alexandria? 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 Alexandria?

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.

Alexandria

There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, and The Best Budget Tours to Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, Alexandria or Kampala?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $71, while the average daily cost in Alexandria is $16. 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 Alexandria in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $60
    Alexandria $7.85
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $120
    Alexandria $16
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Alexandria

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Alexandria? 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 Kampala


Hotels in Alexandria


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 Alexandria Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.54
    Alexandria $2.44
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $4.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
  • Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
  • From Entebbe: 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari with Transfers: $1,850
  • From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
  • Kampala Entebbe Airport Transfer: $45
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $130
  • Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $130

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $0.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:

  • Alexandria Airport to Alexandria - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $54
  • Pick Up Transfers From Alexandria Borg Al Arab Airport To Cairo: $130
  • Private Airport Transfer in Alexandria: $22
  • Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
  • Private Transfer around El Nouzha Airport (ALY) in Alexandria: $63
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria: $27
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $72
  • Private transfer from Alexandria to Luxor: $262
  • transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Alexandria?

Prices for flights to both Alexandria 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kampala $8.55
    Alexandria $6.34
Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • 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.

  • Kampala Food Tour (KWT): $26
  • Like a local cooking Tours: $26
  • Cooking Class for Typical Ugandan Food in Kampala: $31
  • Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
  • Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
  • Cooking Class Tour Kampala.: $60
  • Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.

  • Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $35
  • Food Tour in Alexandria for Lunch or Dinner in The Best Restaurants: $45
  • From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Alexandria $3.43

Tours and Activities in Kampala

Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Small Group City guided walking tour: $8.00
  • Kampala City Guided Walking Tour with Optional Gadaffi Mosque: $10
  • Uganda Community Tour: $15
  • African Fabric Market Tour : $18
  • Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $20
  • Amazing Tour Experience with a local: $20
  • Guided Walking Tour in Kampala: $22
  • KAMPALA HEART OF WALKING ADVENTURE: $24
  • 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
  • City Guided Walking Tour with Kabaka's Palace: $24
  • Kampala:Guided walking tour: $25
  • Kampala Heart of Walking Adventure : $25

Tours and Activities in Alexandria

Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Pompey's Pillar Entry Ticket: $3.80
  • Alexandria Library Entry Tickets With Pickup and Drop Off: $3.80
  • Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Entry Tickets: $4.53
  • Alexandria Free Walking Tour Discover the City’s Secrets: $5.00
  • Skip the Line Tickets for The Roman Theater in Alexandria: $6.41
  • Skip the Line Tickets for The Catacomb of Kom eL Shoqafa: $6.41
  • Citadel of Qaitbay Entry Ticket with Pick up and Drop Off : $14
  • Pompey's Pillar Entry Ticket Included Pickup And Drop Off: $14
  • Ancient Roman Theater Entry Ticket with Pick up and Drop Off: $14
  • Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Entry Ticket with Pick and Drop Off: $14
  • Ancient Roman Theater Entry Ticket with Pick up and Drop Off: $16
  • Citadel of Qaitbay Entry Ticket with Pick up and Drop Off : $16

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Alexandria $1.32

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
  • Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
  • Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Alexandria, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Alexandria.

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


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Alexandria?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Alexandria, 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.