Which place is cheaper, Riga or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kampala or Riga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Riga? 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 Riga?
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.
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $69Riga $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Riga 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 Riga in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $59Riga $57
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $118Riga $114
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Riga
Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Riga? 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 Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.48Riga $16
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: $127
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $149
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $341
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $457
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $425
- From Transfer to Tallinn with Turaida Museum Reserve: $229
- From Vilnius: One-Way Private Transfer to Riga: $181
- Paintball Adventure: Expert Guide & Transfers Included!: $80
- Private Transfer From Riga City Center To Riga Airport: $43
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Hotel with English speaking driver: $53
- Private Transfer from Riga City Center to Riga Airport RIX: $31
- Private Transfer from Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Riga?
Prices for flights to both Riga 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 $8.33Riga $36
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
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
- Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
- uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ) : $154
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
-
Fast Food Lunch$6.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $96
- Medieval Dinner on the 12th Century at Rozengrals: $118
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $130
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $138
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $151
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Riga $23
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking Tour in Kampala : $15
- Uganda Community Tour: $15
- African Fabric Market Tour : $18
- Amazing Tour Experience with a local: $20
- Kampala Half-Day Walking Tour with Local Female Guides: $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
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.19
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.38
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.92
- Riga Old Town Legends Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.39
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $7.45
- Complete Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $8.41
- Riga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Boat tour in Canal and Daugava: $9.58
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Riga Nightlife Ticket: $11
- Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour: $13
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Riga $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
- Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $15
- Riga Pub Crawl Nightlife Experience: $17
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $37
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $53
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $54
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $74
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $96
- Riga Wine Tasting Session: $102
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $520
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,304
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Riga, we can see that Riga 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 Riga is in Europe, 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga 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 Riga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Riga?
Kampala has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Riga, 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.