A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kampala vs. Helsinki for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kampala or Helsinki?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kampala or Helsinki? 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 Helsinki?

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.

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.

Which place is cheaper, Helsinki or Kampala?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Helsinki is $151. 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 Helsinki in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $59
    Helsinki $79
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $118
    Helsinki $158
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Helsinki

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Helsinki? 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.

Hotels in Kampala


Hotels in Helsinki


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 Helsinki Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.48
    Helsinki $24
Typical Local Transportation prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $3.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $128
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
  • From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
  • Entebbe kampala airport transfers: $80
  • Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki

Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 4-Days in Helsinki (Hotel and airport transfers included): $1,471
  • Arrival Private Transfer Helsinki airport HEL to Helsinki by business car: $63
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Helsinki Port to Helsinki City by business car: $45
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Helsinki Port to Helsinki City by luxury van: $57
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Helsinki airport HEL to Helsinki by luxury van: $75
  • Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by business car: $58
  • Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by luxury van: $69
  • Departure Private Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Port by business car: $45
  • Departure Private Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Port by luxury van: $57
  • Guided Tallinn Day Tour from Helsinki / Include hotel transfers: $219
  • Helsinki - Tallinn Private Helicopter Transfer: $2,717
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotel Round-Trip Transfer: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Helsinki?

Prices for flights to both Helsinki 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kampala $8.36
    Helsinki $37
Typical Food prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • 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
  • Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $30
  • Cooking Class for Typical Ugandan Food in Kampala: $31
  • Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
  • Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
  • Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
  • Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
  • Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
  • The Food Tour | Uganda | Half day: $123
  • Kampala cooking tour: $133

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $165
  • TASTE Helsinki food tour: $494

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Helsinki $29

Tours and Activities in Kampala

Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 day Jinja tour : $489
  • 10 Day Best of Uganda Adventure Safari: $4,170
  • 14 Day Uganda & Rwanda Primate Tour (Midrange Tour): $5,540
  • 4 days Tour in Kidepo National Park, Uganda: $410
  • 5-Day Queen, Bwindi and Kibale Wildlife Tour from Entebbe: $4,000
  • Discover the Magic of Uganda's Equator on a 1-Day Tour: $136
  • Equator Tour: $100
  • Jinja and source of the Nile Experience : $260
  • (Copy of) Traditional wedding experience: $251
  • 08 days Classic Uganda Primate Tour : $3,528
  • 1 - One Day Best Of Kampala city Walking Tour: $45
  • 1 -One Day Jinja Source of River Nile Tour Experience : $150

Tours and Activities in Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
  • FREE tip-based tour - Historic Helsinki Walking Tour: $3.28
  • Free Walking Tour in Helsinki (Tip-based): $3.28
  • Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Helsinki Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.59
  • Helsinki Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $7.00
  • Escape Game and Tour: $7.00
  • Temppeliaukio Church Entrance Ticket: $8.61
  • From Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna: $9.15
  • Outdoor-Escape-Game, Blackstories, walk &adventure: $9.69
  • Helsinki Historical Highlights Audio Guided Walking Tour : $9.88
  • Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Helsinki $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
  • Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71

Sample the Local Flavors in Helsinki

Also in Helsinki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Wine Tasting: Made in Finland: $77


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Helsinki, we can see that Helsinki 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 Helsinki is in Europe, 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki than you might in Kampala.

Which is Bigger, Kampala or Helsinki?

Kampala is bigger, and its population is about 2.4 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the population of Kampala vs. Helsinki, 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 and the activities 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.
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Kampala vs. Helsinki Travel Comparison

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