Which place is cheaper, Diani 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 Diani?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Diani? 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 Diani?
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.
Diani
Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.
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Kampala Prices
Uganda PricesDiani Prices
Kenya Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $75Diani $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $75, while the average daily cost in Diani is $69. 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 Diani in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $59Diani $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $118Diani $46
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Diani
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Diani? 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 Diani Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.48Diani $15
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:
- The best Half day Kampala City Tour with Transfers: $65
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $79
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $79
- Private Entebbe Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-off 24/7: $80
- Private Airport & In-Country Transfers in Central Uganda: $60
- Full-Day Kampala City Highlights Tour, Lunch & private Transfers: $156
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
- Airport Pick-Up and Transfers by Globetrotters Africa: $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani
Also for Diani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Taxi and Airport transfers: $70
- Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Diani?
Prices for flights to both Diani 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 $14Diani $35
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
- 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
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $99
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $119
- uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ): $154
- Cultural Dinner Theater Performance with the Ndere Troupe: $200
- Kampala food tour: $205
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Diani
For Diani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Diani Beach: Cooking Class with a Local: $60
- Diani Beach: Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Diani $15
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $30
- 1 Day Jinja and Source of the Nile River Tour: $200
- 1 Day Kampala City 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 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Safari and Wildlife Tour, Uganda: $300
- 1 day Kampala Sightseeing Tour: $150
- 1 day Uganda Equator Experience: $200
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
- 1-Day Jinja & River Nile Tour(Women-Guided-Experience): $179
- 1-Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $289
Tours and Activities in Diani
For Diani, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Market and Street Food Walking Tour: $20
- Stori Baharini: Story telling walking tour in Diani Beach: $20
- Sunset Canoe Tour along the River with Mangroves: $28
- Diani Beach: Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $28
- Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
- Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $32
- Sunset Cruise along Kongo River on Wooden Canoe boat: $35
- Diani Beach: Private African Pool Map Guided Tour: $35
- Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $35
- Diani Beach: Italian-Swahili Fusion Dining Experience: $41
- Diani Beach: Kongo River Estuary Sundowner Boat Tour: $42
- Diani Beach: Glass Boat Cruise to Robinson Island: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Diani $8.88
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
When comparing the travel costs between Kampala and Diani, 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Diani Expensive?.
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.