Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Kampala Prices
Uganda PricesJohannesburg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $77Johannesburg $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $77, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $122. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $60Johannesburg $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $120Johannesburg $124
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.54Johannesburg $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Private Airport & In-Country Transfers in Central Uganda: $60
- The best Half day Kampala City Tour with Transfers: $65
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
- Private Entebbe Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-off 24/7: $80
- Full-Day Kampala City Highlights Tour, Lunch & private Transfers: $156
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- 1-4 Passenger Arrival & Departure JNB - Airport Transfers: $75
- 1-4 Passenger Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $39
- Airport & Private Shuttle and Transfer Services in Johannesburg: $78
- Airport Shuttle and Private Transfers: $39
- Airport Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB by Luxury Van: $80
- Airport Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $80
- Airport Transfers (Airport-Hotel/Hotel-Airport) Johannesburg: $37
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg: $103
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg-Pretoria-Sandton: $75
- Airport Transfers OR Tambo to Sandton Hotels: $58
- Airport transfers, door to door .private transfers: $61
- Arrival Transfer: JNB Airport to Johannesburg by Business Car: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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 $15Johannesburg $33
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$1.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Cooking class Experience in Kampala Uganda: $35
- Matoke Moments Kampala Food Tour 12+ Tastings: $49
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $99
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $119
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Joburg street food tour in it's oldest suburb!: $78
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $85
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $96
- Johannesburg Culture and Food Tour: $98
- Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $111
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $113
- Lesedi Cultural Village Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $124
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $133
- Pan African Cooking Class & Dinning Experience: $137
- Soweto Township Tour With African food tour: $145
- Rooftop Bar, Dinner and Clubbing (Amapiano): $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Johannesburg $24
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- African Fabric Market Tour: $13
- Kampala walking city Tours Experiences: $20
- Best Kampala group Walking Tour.: $25
- Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $25
- Complete Kampala Tour Experience: $25
- Cook and Dine like a local Tour Kampala: $26
- Kampala’s Best Experience walking tour: $26
- Steve Kampala Walking tours (Airpals Safaris tour): $26
- Kampala Walking City Tours (Women-Guided): $27
- Inside Kampala Walking Tour (Female Guided): $28
- Entebbe City Walking Tour Markets History and Botanical Gardens: $29
- 1 Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $30
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Mapatiza Mine Guided Tour with Showroom: $4.63
- Mandela House Entry Ticket: $6.08
- Mapatiza Gemstone Mine Tour Discover Gemstone Transformation: $6.26
- Discover Hidden Treasure with Scratch Patch Experience in Midrand: $16
- Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option: $18
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $22
- Architectural Walking Tour: $25
- Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $28
- Ponte Experience: $31
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $32
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $32
- Johannesburg Street Art & Museum Walking or E-scooter Tour: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Johannesburg $5.37
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $9.33
- Wine Tasting: $12
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Johannesburg, we can see that Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Johannesburg, 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.