A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kampala vs. Port Elizabeth for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kampala or Port Elizabeth?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kampala or Port Elizabeth? 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 Port Elizabeth?

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.

Port Elizabeth

Located on the Indian Ocean coastline of South Africa, Port Elizabeth is a major sea port and tourist destination featuring a pleasant climate, opportunities for water sports, historical landmarks, wildlife areas, and clean beaches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, and The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Port Elizabeth or Kampala?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Port Elizabeth is $44. 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 Port Elizabeth in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $59
    Port Elizabeth $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $118
    Port Elizabeth $46
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Port Elizabeth

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Port Elizabeth? 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.

Hotels in Kampala


Hotels in Port Elizabeth


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 Port Elizabeth Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.48
    Port Elizabeth $9.56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $3.96

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Port Elizabeth?

Prices for flights to both Port Elizabeth 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 day
    Kampala $8.33
    Port Elizabeth $14
Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.58

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: $31
  • 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
  • uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ) : $154
  • Kampala food tour: $205

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Port Elizabeth $9.37

Tours and Activities in Kampala

Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Uganda Community Tour: $15
  • African Fabric Market Tour : $18
  • Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $20
  • Amazing Tour Experience with a local: $20
  • 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
  • Kampala:Guided walking tour: $25
  • Entebbe Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Zoo and Botanical Gardens Options: $25
  • Tombs, King’s palace and Gaddafi mosque walk tours: $26
  • Steve Kampala Walking tours: $27
  • Free Female Guided Walking Tours Kampala (3 Hours): $30
  • Kampala Guided walking Tour: $30
  • Safe Motorbike Tour in Kampala (Boda Boda Tour): $30

Tours and Activities in Port Elizabeth

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Port Elizabeth are as follows:

  • Port Elizabeth City Walking Tour: $44
  • Port Elizabeth tuk-tuk tour, experience the natural beauty.: $70
  • Xhosa Township/Cultural Experience: $127
  • Cape Recife Safari and City Sightseeing Tour: $140
  • Addo Elephant Park Tours .: $175
  • From 5-Day Garden Route Tour to Cape Town: $543
  • 7 Day Garden Route Tour- Durban to Cape Town via Addo N Park: $1,543

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Port Elizabeth $2.58

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 Port Elizabeth, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Port Elizabeth much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Port Elizabeth would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Port Elizabeth 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 Kampala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kampala than you might in Port Elizabeth.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Port Elizabeth Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Port Elizabeth?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Port Elizabeth. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Port Elizabeth, 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.