Which place is cheaper, Kampala or Lake Nakuru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lake Nakuru or Kampala?
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 Kampala. 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 Kampala?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Nakuru $116Kampala $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Nakuru is $116, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $71. 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 Kampala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Nakuru $45Kampala $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Nakuru $90Kampala $120
Compare Hotels in Lake Nakuru and Kampala
Looking for a hotel in Lake Nakuru or Kampala? 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Nakuru $41Kampala $2.54
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $130
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $130
- Kampala Entebbe Airport Transfer: $45
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
- From Entebbe: 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari with Transfers: $1,850
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Nakuru or Kampala?
Prices for flights to both Kampala 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
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Food Meals for one dayLake Nakuru $41Kampala $8.55
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
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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 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Nakuru $36Kampala -
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover the Magic of Uganda's Equator on a 1-Day Tour: $136
- Equator Tour: $100
- 1 -One Day Jinja Source of River Nile Tour Experience : $150
- 1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Lake Victoria: $129
- 1 Day Jinja tour special with Lunch: $170
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
- 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $120
- 1 Day Kampala city tour: $162
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $290
- 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $500
- 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
- 1 day Mabamba (Shoebill) bird watching tour - Shoebill & canoe tour: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Nakuru $7.63Kampala -
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 Lake Nakuru and Kampala, we can see that Lake Nakuru is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Kampala.
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 Kampala Expensive?.
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.