A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lake Nakuru vs. Antananarivo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lake Nakuru or Antananarivo?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lake Nakuru and Antananarivo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Lake Nakuru or Antananarivo?

Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's 23 National Parks, also qualifying as one of the two Premium Parks in the country. Located in central Kenya, about 90 miles west of Nairobi, the area encompasses a large lake as well as the surrounding wooded grasslands. A naturalist's paradise, Lake Nakuru is home to wildlife like flamingos, other water birds, and the black and white rhinoceros.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Lake Nakuru?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Nakuru is $117, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $72. 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 Lake Nakuru and Antananarivo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lake Nakuru $45
    Antananarivo $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lake Nakuru $90
    Antananarivo $60
Compare Hotels in Lake Nakuru and Antananarivo

Looking for a hotel in Lake Nakuru or Antananarivo? 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 Lake Nakuru


Hotels in Antananarivo


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: Antananarivo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lake Nakuru $41
    Antananarivo $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Nakuru or Antananarivo?

Prices for flights to both Antananarivo and Lake Nakuru 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
    Lake Nakuru $41
    Antananarivo $29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.

  • Street food and Cooking class tour in Antananarivo: $163
  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lake Nakuru $37
    Antananarivo $24

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

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

  • 3 days -Wildlife and Lemur discovery Tour to Andasibe: $682
  • Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
  • Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $23
  • Day - Tour Ampefy: $144
  • Day tour discovery Tour to Ampefy village: $272
  • From 9 days unique adventure trip to Tulear: $1,971
  • Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $201
  • Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
  • Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
  • Madagascar Adventures on Tana, West, East, North, and South: $2,550
  • Madagascar: Andasibe and Nosy Be Tour in one week: $2,240

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lake Nakuru $7.74
    Antananarivo $9.65


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Nakuru and Antananarivo, we can see that Lake Nakuru is more expensive. And not only is Antananarivo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Antananarivo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antananarivo 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 Lake Nakuru would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Nakuru than you might in Antananarivo.

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