Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kampala or Philadelphia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia?
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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $69Philadelphia $188
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $188. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $59Philadelphia $119
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $118Philadelphia $238
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Philadelphia
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.48Philadelphia $28
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 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL): Private Transfer to Philadelphia: $355
- Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $135
- Philadelphia to New York Airport (JFK) Departure Transfer : $191
- Philadelphia to New York Airport (LGA) Departure Transfer : $180
- Philadelphia to New York J.F. Kennedy Airport(JFK) - Departure Private Transfer : $173
- Philadelphia to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Departure Private Transfer : $163
- Philadelphia to Newark International Airport (EWR) - Departure Private Transfer : $170
- Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $95
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL in Luxury SUV: $105
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 dayKampala $8.36Philadelphia $49
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
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $52
- Best of Philly Food Tour: $55
- Best of Philadelphia Food Tour-Small Group Walking Tour: $59
- 9th Street Italian Market Walking Food Tour: $61
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $65
- Bites and Booze: Walking Food Tour in Philadelphia : $65
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Philadelphia's Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $66
- Secret Food Tour: $84
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $85
- Chef-Led Taste of the Italian Market Food Tour: $90
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Philadelphia $28
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 Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.40
- Philadelphia Architecture: Discover Every American Style on a GPS Audio Tour: $7.55
- The Road to Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Philadelphia: $8.99
- Road to Revolution GPS Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour : $9.00
- Philadelphia In App Walking Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Allentown: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Philadelphia by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Allentown by Wacky Walks: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- National Liberty Museum Entrance Ticket: $12
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Philadelphia $21
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 Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Guided Tour with Pub Crawl: $45
- Half-Day Philadelphia's Brewery Bike Tour with Tastings: $100
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia is in North America, 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 Philadelphia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Philadelphia, 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.