Which place is cheaper, Nairobi or Lake Nakuru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lake Nakuru or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi. 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 Nairobi?
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.
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Adventure Tours to Kenya, and The Best Camping Tours in Kenya.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Nakuru $117Nairobi $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Nakuru is $117, while the average daily cost in Nairobi is $63. 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 Nairobi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Nakuru $45Nairobi $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Nakuru $90Nairobi $24
Compare Hotels in Lake Nakuru and Nairobi
Looking for a hotel in Lake Nakuru or Nairobi? 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Nakuru $41Nairobi $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Train tickets and transfer from Nairobi to mombasa: $67
- Safe and Private Airport transfer in Nairobi : $20
- Safe Airport Transfer in Nairobi: $21
- Professional Airport Transfer Service in Nairobi: $33
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $84
- Private Transfer from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) to Nairobi: $84
- Private Departure Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Private Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $40
- Private Airport Transfer and Service in Nairobi: $20
- One-Way Nairobi Airport Transfers - JKIA 45 minutes waiting time: $35
- Nairobi airport transfer: $35
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Nakuru or Nairobi?
Prices for flights to both Nairobi 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 $41Nairobi $7.63
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore experience Lunch Or Dinner (Optional Bomas of kenya ): $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
- Nairobi Cooking and Food Tasting Activity: $60
- Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
- Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $80
- Barbecue Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $85
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $91
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $92
- The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport: $97
- Barbecue Dinner & Entertainment in Nairobi : $98
- Traditional Kikuyu Cooking Class In My Village: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Nakuru $37Nairobi $47
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$16
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour: $95
- Half day tour to Elephant orphanage & Giraffe Centre Nairobi: $95
- Hells Gate Park & Lake Naivasha boat ride Day tour: $150
- Lake Naivasha Full day Tour With Boat Rides: $156
- Nairobi park Tour 6.A.M-11.AM: $70
- Private Tour Nairobi national park & Giraffe Centre: $120
- The 42 Stories -Kenya Culture and Walk Experience with a Local: $36
- 1 Day Hiking Adventure At Mt Longonot From Nairobi(minimum 2 Pax): $225
- 1 Day Tour Hiking Mt. Longonot and lake Naivasha Boat ride : $75
- 1 Day Tour Nairobi National Park,Giraffe Center&Karen Blixen: $50
- 12-Hour Private Tour to Amboseli National Park: $220
- 1Day Ngong Hills Hiking ang Zip Line Adventure: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Nakuru $7.74Nairobi $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Nakuru and Nairobi, we can see that Lake Nakuru is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Nairobi.
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 Nairobi 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.