Should you visit Kampala or Dakar?
Should I visit Kampala or Dakar? 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.
Dakar
Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.
Which city is cheaper, Dakar 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 Dakar is $54. 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 Dakar 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 Dakar is about $56 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.
The price of a meal in Dakar can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $17 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $6.80 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kampala $7.17
Dakar $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
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Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour:
$91
-
Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop:
$102
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Amazing Race - Food Tour:
$103
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Kampala cooking tour:
$133
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Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours):
$147
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Kampala food tour:
$205
Typical Food prices in Dakar
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:
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 cost of a taxi ride in Dakar is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $4.72 per person, per day, on local transportation in Dakar.
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:
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Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda:
$146
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:
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Dakar Airport to St Louis Private Transfer:
$187
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Departure Private Transfer to Dakar Airport DSS by Sedan, Minivan or Minibus:
$79
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Private Transfer from Dakar to Blaise Diagne Airport (DSS):
$233
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Dakar?
Prices for flights to both Dakar 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
Entertainment and activities in Dakar typically cost an average of $12 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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
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Uganda Community Tour:
$15
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Banange Brewing Company Tour:
$15
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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
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The food experience - Authentic Ugandan food:
$21
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Kampala Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Optional Gaddafi Mosque Visit:
$25
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Like a Local Food Tasting & Cultural Tour (6 Hours):
$26
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Steve Kampala Walking tours:
$27
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3 Hours Walking Tour in Kampala:
$27
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3 Hours Kampala Walking Tour:
$28
Tours and Activities in Dakar
Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Dakar Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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Private Half-Day Dakar City Tour: Layover tour:
$114
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Half-Day Dakar City Tour:
$128
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Dakar City Tour and Goree Island:
$135
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Full-Day DAKAR city / GOREE Island Tour:
$147
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Half-Day GOREE Island Tour:The Heritage Tour:
$147
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Half Day Private Tour at Bandia Animals Reserve:
$149
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Dakar CITY TOUR:
$149
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Full- Day Goree And Dakar City Tour:
$203
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A Fun tour of the vibrant and busy Dakar City:
$205
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Half Day Tour : Explore Goree island:
$213
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FULL-DAY SAFARI AND PINK LAKE TOUR (minimum 2 pax):
$294
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Dakar may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.91 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
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Pub Crawl Kampala (6 Hours):
$20
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Kampala Pub Crawl:
$60
When comparing the travel costs between Kampala and Dakar, we can see that Kampala 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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