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

Should you visit Kampala or Zagora?

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

Should I visit Kampala or Zagora? 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 Zagora?

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.

Zagora

A small town in southern Morocco, Zagora is a popular base camp for excursions on foot, by camel, or four wheel drive vehicles into the surrounding desert. One of the most famous and historic treks is the ancient caravan route to Timbuktu, marked by a famous sign at the end of town - indicating a journey of "52 days" by camel.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, and The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Zagora or Kampala?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $71, while the average daily cost in Zagora is $52. 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 Zagora in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $60
    Zagora $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $120
    Zagora $74
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Zagora

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Zagora? 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 Zagora


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 Zagora Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.54
    Zagora $1.47
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:

  • Kampala Entebbe Airport Transfer: $45
  • Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $133
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
  • From Entebbe: 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari with Transfers: $1,850
  • From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagora

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagora:

  • Airport Private Transfer: $37

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Zagora?

Prices for flights to both Zagora 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 $8.55
    Zagora $13
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.

  • Kampala Food Tour (KWT): $26
  • 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
  • Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
  • Cooking Class Tour Kampala.: $60
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Zagora $2.95

Tours and Activities in Kampala

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

  • Small Group City guided walking tour: $11
  • 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
  • KAMPALA HEART OF WALKING ADVENTURE: $22
  • Guided Walking Tour in Kampala: $22
  • City Guided Walking Tour with Kabaka's Palace: $24
  • 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
  • Best Kampala group Walking Tour.: $25
  • Kampala:Guided walking tour: $25
  • Kampala Heart of Walking Adventure : $25

Tours and Activities in Zagora

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

  • 2 Days Tour to Zagora Desert with sunset from Marrakech: $86
  • 2-Day Sahara Adventure to Zagora and Ait Ben Haddou: $107
  • Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 and camel ride : $112
  • 2 days tour from Zagora to Erg Chegaga: $135
  • Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $171
  • Private Day Camel Trekking Tour in Draa Valley from Zagora: $224
  • From 2-Day Desert Tour to Erg Chegaga: $300
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $368
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $381
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $391
  • From Agadir 4 Days 3 nights Sahara Tour to Marrakeche: $1,027

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Zagora -

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Zagora, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Zagora much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zagora would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagora 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 Zagora.

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


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Zagora?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Zagora. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Zagora, 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.