Which place is cheaper, Soweto or Lake Nakuru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lake Nakuru or Soweto?
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 Soweto. 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 Soweto?
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.
Soweto
The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg. It is a city of contrasts, featuring anything from tin shanties to luxurious mansions, and is probably best known for being the home of two Nobel Prize winners.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Nakuru $117Soweto $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Nakuru is $117, while the average daily cost in Soweto is $61. 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 Soweto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Nakuru $45Soweto $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Nakuru $90Soweto $62
Compare Hotels in Lake Nakuru and Soweto
Looking for a hotel in Lake Nakuru or Soweto? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Nakuru $41Soweto $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Nakuru or Soweto?
Prices for flights to both Soweto 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 $41Soweto $20
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Nakuru $37Soweto $16
Tours and Activities in Soweto
For Soweto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $57
- Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $92
- Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $67
- Visit Gospel service with additional Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Nakuru $7.74Soweto $8.10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Nakuru and Soweto, we can see that Lake Nakuru is more expensive. And not only is Soweto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Soweto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Soweto 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 Soweto.
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 Soweto 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.