Which place is cheaper, Beirut or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kampala or Beirut?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Beirut? 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 Beirut?
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.
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $69Beirut $2.26
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Beirut is $2.26. 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 Beirut in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $59Beirut $1.26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $118Beirut $2.52
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Beirut
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Beirut? 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 Beirut Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.48Beirut $0.44
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$3.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
- Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $10
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $201
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $15
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer: $13
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89
- Hiking Day Trip to Chouwen Lake with Hotel Transfers: $86
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Beirut?
Prices for flights to both Beirut 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 $8.36Beirut $0.71
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$1.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Like a local cooking Tours: $26
- Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
- Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
- Kampala food tour: $205
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $30
- Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Beirut $0.26
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Equator Tour: $100
- 1 - One Day Best Of Kampala city Walking Tour: $45
- 1 Day Jinja source of the River Nile tour: $260
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $120
- 1 Day Kampala city tour: $162
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
- 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $465
- 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
- 1-Day Uganda Rhino Trekking Tour Experience: $239
- 1-day Kampala city tour Uganda: $171
- 1Day Jinja Tour & source of the Nile River Experience : $193
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Uncover Beirut's Divided Past: In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Discovering Lebanon: Jeita Grotto, Harissa, and Byblos Tour: $15
- Small Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos with Hotel pickup: $15
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- City Sightseeing Beirut Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- Beirut : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $34
- Private Tour - Explore Anjar Lebanon: $35
- Beirut Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Beirut Full Day Walking Tour: $41
- Private Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $48
- From Jeita, Harissa, and Byblos Tour: $50
- Full-Day Private Tour to Sidon, Tyre and Maghdouche: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Beirut $0.23
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir : $50
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $56
- Uncorking Splendor: A Journey Through Private Wine Tasting Tours: $60
- Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries: $60
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
- Wine Tasting and Culture : $69
- Wine Tasting and Hiking in the Cedars forest : $69
- From Full Day Wine Tasting in the Bekaa Valley Tour: $90
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour to Chateau Musar and Ixsir Winery: $100
- Full-Day Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour from Beirut: $103
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Beirut, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kampala is in Africa and Beirut is in Middle East, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Beirut Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Beirut?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Beirut, 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.