Which place is cheaper, Durban 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 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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Kampala Prices
Uganda PricesDurban Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $78Durban $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $78, while the average daily cost in Durban is $63. 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 $61Durban $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $122Durban $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 $2.56Durban $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$4.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- Full Day Kampala Religious Private Tour with Transfers: $150
- Guided City Tour with Private Transfers: $135
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
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
- Departure Private Transfer Durban to Durban Airport DUR by Sedan: $81
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers : $46
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $106
- Durban airport to Durban city transfer: $39
- Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $46
- Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $43
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $106
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 $15Durban $27
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$1.64
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 Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Three-Hour Food Tour: $71
- Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Kampala Local Cooking Experience : $80
- Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
- Kampala cooking tour: $133
- Kampala food tour: $205
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 (Airpals Safaris tour): $100
- 1 -One Day Jinja Source of River Nile Tour Experience : $175
- 1 Day Equator Experience in Uganda: $128
- 1 Day Jinja & Source of the Nile River tour (female guided): $230
- 1 Day Jinja and the source of River Nile (Airpals Safaris Tour): $150
- 1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour: $290
- 1 Day Lake Mburo National Park safari, Game drive and Cruise: $394
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $290
- 1 Day Shoebill Stork and Birding Experience : $190
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
- 1/2 Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tour : $130
- 14-Day Uganda Adventure: $18,000
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise: $5.75
- Durban Point Waterfront: Luxury Canal Boat Cruise: $8.10
- 1-Hour Boat Cruise from Wilson's Wharf: $8.36
- Luxury Canal Boat Cruise - Fun Things Durban Ushaka: $8.40
- Pontoon Boat Harbor Cruise: $10
- Luxury Harbour Ocean Boat Cruise: $11
- Magical Gondola Night Boat Cruise in Durban: $11
- Durban Half-Day City Tour - Golden Mile, Botanical Gardens: $48
- Durban City Sightseeing Tour: $50
- Local Markets and Culture Guided Walking Tour: $57
- Culture Walking Tour of Durban: $60
- Durban Shore Excursion: Private Small Group Durban City Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Durban $12
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
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.