Which place is cheaper, Jinja 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 Jinja?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Jinja? 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 Jinja?
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.
Jinja
Jinja is a city located at the source of the Nile in Uganda, Africa. Many backpackers travel to Jinja, as it is known for its white water rafting. This city is the third largest economy in all of the East African Community. It has a population of about 72,000 people.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Budget Safaris in Uganda, and The Best Luxury Tours to Uganda.
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Kampala Prices
Uganda PricesJinja Prices
Uganda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $78Jinja $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $78, while the average daily cost in Jinja is $116. 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 Jinja in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $61Jinja $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $122Jinja $90
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Jinja
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Jinja? 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 Jinja Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.56Jinja $22
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:
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Full Day Kampala Religious Private Tour with Transfers: $150
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- Guided City Tour with Private Transfers: $135
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jinja
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jinja:
- 1-Day Source of River Nile Tour with Transfers: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Jinja?
Prices for flights to both Jinja 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 $15Jinja $51
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 -Jinja $30
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small Group City Center Guided Walking tour: $11
- African Fabric Market Tour : $13
- Katanga Slum Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Uganda Community Tour: $15
- Kampala's walking city Tour Experience : $18
- Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $20
- Female-Guided Walking Tour: $24
- 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
- Best Kampala group Walking Tour.: $25
- Entebbe Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Zoo and Botanical Gardens Options: $25
- Complete Kampala Tour Experience: $25
- Kampala Heart of Walking Adventure : $26
Tours and Activities in Jinja
Here are a few actual costs in Jinja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Jinja Walking Tour: Source of Nile & Boat Ride Options: $31
- Guided Walking Tour with Optional Source of the Nile: $31
- David's Shared Walking Tour in Jinja with a Local Cultural Meal: $40
- Full Day Tour with source of the Nile Boat Cruise: $166
- 2 days Jinja adventure with white water rafting and tubing: $200
- 1-DAY BEST JINJA & SOURCE OF RIVER NILE TOUR: $220
- 1 Day Jinja And Source Of The Nile River Tour(female Guided): $295
- 2 Day tour with visit to the Sipi Falls: $397
- Jinja 2-Day Trip with boat cruise, Zip lining, Quad Bikes: $492
- Uganda : 3-Day Jinja Adventure Holiday: $1,100
- HIGH-OCTANE ADVENTURES—QUADBIKE, ZIPLINE, RIVER-RAFT & MORE: $2,750
- UGANDA HORSEBACK — SCENIC LANDSCAPES & ADVENTURES | 8-Days: $3,200
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Jinja $14
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 Jinja, we can see that Jinja is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Jinja would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jinja than you might in Kampala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Jinja Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Jinja?
Kampala has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Jinja. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Jinja, 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.