Which place is cheaper, Pretoria or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kampala or Pretoria?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Pretoria? 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 Pretoria?
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.
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa.
-
Kampala Prices
Uganda PricesPretoria Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $77Pretoria $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $77, while the average daily cost in Pretoria is $69. 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 Pretoria in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $60Pretoria $28
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $120Pretoria $56
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Pretoria
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Pretoria? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.54Pretoria $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
-
Taxi around town$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- The best Half day Kampala City Tour with Transfers: $65
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $78
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $78
- Private Airport & In-Country Transfers in Central Uganda: $60
- Jinja 1 Day Source of River Nile Tour with Transfers: $250
- Full-Day Kampala City Highlights Tour, Lunch & private Transfers: $156
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
- Airport Pick-Up and Transfers by Globetrotters Africa: $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers and Private Tours: $44
- Airport transfers,door to door shuttle: $53
- Pretoria to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Private Oneway Transfer from Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from JHB Airport to Hotels and Around Sandton: $41
- Sun City Private Transfer: $246
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Pretoria?
Prices for flights to both Pretoria 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 $15Pretoria $29
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
-
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.
- Matoke Moments Kampala Food Tour 12+ Tastings: $49
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $99
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $119
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $113
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $135
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Pretoria $16
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Jinja Source of the Nile Tour: $290
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
- 1 Day Shoebill Stork and Birding Experience: $190
- 1 Day Uganda Equator Tour From Kampala To Kayabwe: $200
- 1 day Uganda Equator Experience: $200
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
- 1-Day Jinja & River Nile Tour(Women-Guided-Experience): $179
- 1/2 Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tour: $130
- 2-Hours Village Walk and Lake Victoria cruise from Kampala: $35
- 2-Hours village walk and Lake Victoria cruise from Entebbe: $35
- 3 Hours Walking Tour in Kampala: $28
- African Fabric Market Tour: $13
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harties Cableway Experience Ticket: $19
- Soweto walking tour with a taxi ride: $39
- Soweto Township Tour: $44
- History Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $45
- Soweto Quad Bike and Tuk Tuk Tours: $48
- Johannesburg & Soweto Full day Tour - With Pickup & Drop Off: $60
- Apartheid Museum Guided Tour: $63
- Pretoria Tour-Voortrekker Monument, Town, Union Buildings: $64
- Rietvlei Nature Reserve half-day tour from Pretoria, every TUESDAY: $64
- Soweto and Johannesburg Tour: $69
- Half day guided tour: $75
- Constitutional Hill and Apartheid Museum Half-Day Tour from ZAR R1 100 Private: $75
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Pretoria $35
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
- Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71
When comparing the travel costs between Kampala and Pretoria, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Pretoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Pretoria?
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Pretoria, 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.