Which place is cheaper, Cancun 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 Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Cancun? 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 Cancun?
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.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Kampala Prices
Uganda PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $81Cancun $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $81, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $153. 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 Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $63Cancun $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $126Cancun $178
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Cancun? 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 Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.67Cancun $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $80
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $80
- Private Entebbe Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-off 24/7: $80
- Entebbe kampala airport transfers: $100
- 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 Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.52
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$15
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Private Airport Transfers From/to Cancun Hotel Zone : $40
- Airport Private Transfer Puerto Aventuras: $96
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $60
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Juarez - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $167
- Airport transfers to Isla Mujeres: $175
- Akumal One Way Or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $139
- Amazing ATV (single) Cenote and Ziplines with Transfer from Playa del Carmen: $80
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cancun Airport CUN to Tulum by Minivan or Minibus: $132
- Atv Cancun (cenote, Ziplines, Lunch And Transfer Included) : $49
- Buggy Trip in Cozumel Island with transfer from Riviera Maya: $176
- Cancún Airport (CUN) Cancun hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Private Arrival Transfer: $106
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun 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 $16Cancun $45
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$1.71
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
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
- The Food Tour | Uganda | Half day: $123
- uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ) : $154
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Pirate Ship Adventure : Dinner & Show at Sea 2 for 1 Deal: $50
- Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $57
- Pirate Show in Cancun! Dinner & drinks: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun : $65
- Pirate Shop & Dinner at Cancun! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $65
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $77
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class : $79
- Columbus Romantic Dinner in Cancún: $79
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Cancun $32
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover the Magic of Uganda's Equator on a 1-Day Tour: $136
- 1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Lake Victoria: $160
- 1 Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $50
- 1 Day Best of Mabamba Shoebill Bird Watching Tour in Entebbe: $135
- 1 Day Jinja & Source of the Nile River tour (female guided): $230
- 1 Day Jinja and Source of the Nile River Tour: $200
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $290
- 1 Day Shoebill Stork and Birding Experience : $190
- 1 Day Uganda Equator Tour From Kampala To Kayabwe: $122
- 1 Day Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Safari and Wildlife Tour, Uganda: $300
- 1 day Mabamba (Shoebill) bird watching tour - Shoebill & canoe tour: $205
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.54
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$92
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV Tour, Zip Lines, Horseback Riding, Cenote and Tequila Tasting: $10
- Tour to Kin Ha Cenotes with Craft Jewelry Workshop : $12
- Cancun Mayan Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket: $14
- Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $14
- Speedboat jungle tour and snorkel: $15
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Adventure Snorkeling, Spinnaker and Lunch: $15
- Tour to Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling : $15
- Tulum and Coba Archaeological Tour with Cenote Swim: $16
- Chichen Itza Day Tour with Cenote Swim and Valladolid Visit: $16
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling, Open Bar and Buffet: $16
- Full Day Tour to Coba and Tulum Cenote Swim and Lunch: $16
- Speedboat Tour with Snorkeling in Cancun – Drive Your Own Boat!: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Cancun $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
- Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Cancun, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kampala is in Africa and Cancun is in North America, 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 Kampala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampala 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Kampala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Cancun?
Kampala has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Cancun, 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.