Which place is cheaper, Osaka or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kampala or Osaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Osaka? 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 Osaka?
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.
Osaka
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $69Osaka $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Osaka is $88. 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 Osaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $59Osaka $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $118Osaka $90
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Osaka
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Osaka? 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 Osaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.48Osaka $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$3.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- 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 Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:
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Subway$7.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka
Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer from Osaka city to Kansai airport: $70
- Airport Transfer! Hotel in center of Osaka to Osaka International Airport (ITM): $150
- Airport Transfer! Osaka Airport (ITM) to Center of hotel in Osaka: $150
- Airport Transfer!Hotel in center of Osaka to Kansai Airport (KIX): $192
- Arrival Private Transfer from Itama Airport ITM to Osaka City by Minivan: $75
- Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Van: $237
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kyoto: $199
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $215
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Osaka: $87
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer ⇋ Osaka: $163
- Itami Airport Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kobe: $183
- Itami Airport Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kyoto: $216
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Osaka?
Prices for flights to both Osaka 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 $8.36Osaka $25
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$1.59
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
- Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
- Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
- Kampala food tour: $205
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Osaka
For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Takoyaki DIY Cooking in the Heart of Osaka: $23
- Osaka:Food Tour & Shopping(Grand Opening Limited Time Offer): $26
- 2-Hour Kuromon Market Walking Street Food Tour: $27
- Private Takoyaki Cooking Class by Natives in Osaka: $37
- Experience Cooking Takoyaki in its Birthplace, Osaka: $43
- Japanese home cooking class in Osaka Umeda: $46
- Nosatlgic Namba Osaka Street Food Tour.: $48
- Homemade Gyoza Cooking Class in Osaka: $51
- Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Dotonbori: $63
- Kimono experience and Japanese home-cooking lesson Osaka: $65
- RAMEN and 2 types GYOZA (dumplings) Cooking Class: $66
- Osaka Authentic Tempura & Miso Soup Japan Cooking Class: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Osaka $20
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Equator Tour: $100
- 1 - One Day Best Of Kampala city Walking Tour: $45
- 1 Day Jinja source of the River Nile tour: $260
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $120
- 1 Day Kampala city tour: $162
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
- 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $465
- 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
- 1-Day Uganda Rhino Trekking Tour Experience: $239
- 1-day Kampala city tour Uganda: $171
- 1Day Jinja Tour & source of the Nile River Experience : $193
Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Osaka Aquarium (for 2)$30
Tours and Activities in Osaka
For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Osaka Castle: Museum and Tower Entry Ticket: $3.92
- Table Tennis Experience with Local Players: $4.58
- Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum Entrance Ticket: $4.58
- Ryurei Teicha: Chanoyu (Tea Ceremony) Experience in Osaka: $5.23
- Osaka Sakishima Observatory Advance Ticket: $5.88
- Tsutenkaku Tower Entry Ticket: $6.54
- Tsutenkaku Entry Ticket: $7.68
- Dotonbori District Sightseeing Cruise & Beer Discount: $7.84
- Umeda Sky Building E-Ticket: $9.81
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory E-Ticket: $12
- Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory Entry Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Osaka $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
Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:
- Osaka Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $23
- Namba Pub Bar Crawl with a Born & Raised Local Guide: $31
- Local Bar Crawl in Dotombori and Uranamba Area: $39
- Osaka Local Bar Crawl in Dotombori & Uranamba Area: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Osaka, we can see that Osaka 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 Osaka is in Asia, 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 Osaka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Osaka 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 Osaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Osaka?
Osaka has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Osaka, 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.