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

Should you visit Kampala or Rotterdam?

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

Should I visit Kampala or Rotterdam? 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 Rotterdam?

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.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has the largest port in Europe. It's famously known as a city of architecture. In a few square kilometers of the city center you can get a complete overview of twentieth century architecture within Rotterdam.

Rotterdam is a very diverse, international, and hard working city. Nearly half of the city's population is not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent from outside the country. Muslim's make up a significant portion of the population. Other area's represented include Cape Verde and the Dutch Antilles.

There's an air of optimism that permeates the entire city. There are frequent events, festivals and performances, making Rotterdam an enjoyable place to spend some time. Water is also an integral part of the city design.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.


Which place is cheaper, Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam is $162. 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 Rotterdam in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $59
    Rotterdam $82
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $118
    Rotterdam $164
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Rotterdam

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Rotterdam? 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 Rotterdam


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 Rotterdam Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.48
    Rotterdam $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:

  • From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128
  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
  • Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam

Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Amsterdam Schiphol Airport(AMS) to Rotterdam- Round-Trip Transfer: $131
  • Private Direct Transfer from Rotterdam to Amsterdam: $170
  • Private Minivan Transfer from Rotterdam: $295
  • Private Minivan Transfer from Rotterdam : $274
  • Private Rotterdam Cruise Port Departure Transfer to AMS Schiphol Airport : $164
  • Private Rotterdam Cruise Port Departure Transfer to Amsterdam: $170
  • Private Transfer From Rotterdam to Amsterdam, With a 2 Hour Stop: $241
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to IJmuiden Port: $61
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam City to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: $208
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Amsterdam hotels: $98
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $38
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Rotterdam?

Prices for flights to both Rotterdam 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 $8.36
    Rotterdam $58
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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotterdam

For Rotterdam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Self-Guided Rotterdam BiteMe Food Tour: $43
  • 4-Hour Food Tour - Self-guided: $48
  • Guided Food Tour: $80
  • Guided Walking Food Tour: $85
  • Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide: $86
  • Walking Rotterdam Food Tour: $86
  • WALKING DINNER ROTTERDAM | 3 courses + 3 drinks and a lot of fun: $87
  • Food Tour by Bike: $91
  • Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $120
  • Rotterdam Walking Dutch Food Tour: $153
  • Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $161
  • Private Multicultural Bike Food Tour: $274

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Rotterdam $34

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

Tours and Activities in Rotterdam

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.

  • Hightlights City Centre Walking Tour: $1.08
  • 2 hour Guided Walking Tour Rotterdam: $3.23
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
  • Rotterdam Spanish Tour 2 Hours: $3.27
  • Rotterdam Walking Tour in 2 Hours : $3.27
  • Escape Game and Tour: $4.31
  • Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
  • Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.00
  • Breda: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.29
  • Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.29
  • Dordrecht: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.31
  • Rotterdam Walking Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Rotterdam $20

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 Rotterdam

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rotterdam:

  • Beer Brewery Noordt Tastings with Optional Tour: $8.07
  • Heineken Building former brewery | Guided Tour: $8.07
  • Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Rotterdam, we can see that Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Rotterdam?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Rotterdam, 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.

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