Which place is cheaper, Durban or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kampala or Durban?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Durban? 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 Durban?
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.
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $69Durban $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Durban is $52. 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 Durban in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $59Durban $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $118Durban $48
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Durban
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Durban? 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 Durban Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.48Durban $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$3.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
- Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $46
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Business Car: $78
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- Departure Private Transfer: Durban City to Durban Airport DUR by Business Car: $76
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers : $39
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $500
- Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $35
- Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $32
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Durban?
Prices for flights to both Durban 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 $8.33Durban $16
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$1.58
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
- Cooking Class for Typical Ugandan Food in Kampala: $31
- 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
- uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ) : $154
- Kampala food tour: $205
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Durban $16
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Equator Tour: $100
- 1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour: $290
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
- 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $460
- 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
- 1Day Jinja Tour & source of the Nile River Experience : $193
- 2 Days Birding Tour in Entebbe: $246
- 3 Hours Guided Cycling Tour Across Lake Victoria: $60
- 6 Hour Kampala Small Group Guided Walking Tour: $60
- 6 Hours Walking Tour in Kampala : $47
- 7 Hours Guided Cycling Tour to Sezibwa Waterfalls: $74
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise: $5.33
- Durban Point Waterfront: Luxury Canal Boat Cruise: $8.00
- 1-Hour Boat Cruise from Wilson's Wharf: $8.00
- Luxury Canal Boat Cruise - Fun Things Durban Ushaka: $8.41
- Magical Gondola Night Boat Cruise in Durban: $8.68
- Pontoon Boat Harbor Cruise: $10
- Luxury Harbour Ocean Boat Cruise: $11
- Durban Walking Tour: $26
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Tour: $40
- Durban Half-Day City Tour - Golden Mile, Botanical Gardens: $42
- Durban City Sightseeing Tour: $43
- Durban:Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Durban $13
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 Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Durban, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Durban much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durban would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durban 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 Durban.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Durban Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Durban?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Durban, 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.