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 $78Johannesburg $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $78, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $112. 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 $61Johannesburg $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $122Johannesburg $114
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 $2.59Johannesburg $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.14
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 Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
- Entebbe kampala airport transfers: $100
- Guided City Tour with Private Transfers: $150
- Full Day Kampala Religious Private Tour with Transfers: $150
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
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$3.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Transfers Between Lanseria Airport And Johannesburg : $58
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure JNB - Airport Transfers: $69
- 1-3 Passenger Private Johannesburg - Airport Transfer: $36
- Airport & Private Shuttle and Transfer Services in Johannesburg: $58
- Airport Transfers JHB: $54
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg : $69
- Airport Transfers Johannesburg-Pretoria-Sandton: $115
- Airport Transfers OR Tambo to Sandton Hotels: $56
- Airport Transfers from Cradle of Humankind Muldesdrift to Jo'burg: $153
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Business Car: $71
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $80
- Authentic Airport Transfers in Johannesburg: $78
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 $30
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$1.66
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: $32
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $45
- 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
- Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
- The Food Tour | Uganda | Half day: $123
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $50
- Unique street food tour from at least 6 different cultures!: $60
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $81
- Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef: $82
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Zulu Food Cooking and Dining Experience with a local Chef: $103
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $104
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $121
- Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food: $128
- Rooftop Bar, Dinner and Clubbing (Amapiano): $209
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Johannesburg $22
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Glassblowing, Beadmaking, and More Art Experience: $9.00
- African Fabric Market Tour : $13
- Uganda Community Tour: $15
- Katanga Slum and Wandegeya Market Guided Tour: $15
- Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $20
- City Guided walking sightseeing Tour: $20
- Female-Guided Walking Tour: $24
- 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
- Complete Kampala Tour Experience: $25
- Inside Kampala Walking Tour (Female Guided): $25
- Entebbe: City Guided walking Sightseeing Tour: $25
- Best Kampala group Walking Tour.: $25
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Johannesburg Zoo Entry Ticket: $7.02
- Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour with Soweto Option: $17
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Optional Soweto Tour: $19
- Architectural Walking Tour: $25
- Braamfontein Street Art & Culture Tour: $27
- Guided Walking Tour in Johannesburg: $28
- Ponte Experience: $29
- Soweto Township Tour: $30
- Maboneng Street Art & Culture Tour: $31
- Soweto: Hector Pieterson Memorial, to Orlando Towers Tour: $31
- Soweto: Bike Tour with a Local Tour Guide: $31
- Half-Day Walking Tour in Soweto: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Johannesburg $4.93
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 Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.66
- Wine Tasting: $11
- Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg Pub Crawl: $13
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.