Which place is cheaper, Amsterdam or Masai Mara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Masai Mara or Amsterdam?
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 Masai Mara and Amsterdam. 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: Masai Mara or Amsterdam?
Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is a beautiful, scenic, nature reserve in southwest Kenya, just west of the capital city, Nairobi. The reserve belongs to the Masai people and was created in order to protect the land and the people and animals living on it. Masai Mara is considered to be one of the best reserves in all of Africa, offering the quintessential African safari experience.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. While it is most famous for its canals that cross and weave around the city, it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The historical architecture, scenic bridges, and energetic cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesAmsterdam Prices
Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $132Amsterdam $237
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $132, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is $237. 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 Masai Mara and Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Amsterdam $114
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Amsterdam $228
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Amsterdam
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Amsterdam? 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: Amsterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Amsterdam $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
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Ride on Tram$3.59
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Renting a Bike$17
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One Hour Canal Cruise$11
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Single Day Transit Pass$2.92
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Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport$3.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- 1-Way Train Transfer to/from Haarlem: $7.37
- Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Leiden: $16
- Madurodam: Train + tram transferring to/from Amsterdam: $22
- Train Transfer Schiphol Airport from/to Eindhoven: $33
- Amsterdam Airport (AMS) Transfer to Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Keukenhof: $35
- Private Cruise Transfers: AMS, Rotterdam, IJmuiden: $39
- Private Transfer: Hotel in Amsterdam to Amsterdam Cruise Port: $39
- Amsterdam Private Taxi Transfer to from Cruise Port: $39
- Amsterdam Airport Arrival Transfer (Airport to Amsterdam Hotel or Address): $39
- AMS Airport Private Transfer ⇄ Amsterdam/Rotterdam: $39
- Private Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Transfer Service: $40
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) Departure transfer from Amsterdam City: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam and Masai Mara 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 dayMasai Mara $57Amsterdam $90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.
- Nairobi National Museum and Carnivore Restaurant Food Tour: $275
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
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Afternoon Tea$6.74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Amsterdam Guided Cruise with New York Pizza, Drinks and Ice Cream: $40
- Romantic Dinner or Lunch in the Dark Amsterdam: $48
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café: $58
- 3-course dinner party at a secret pop-up restaurant: $68
- Top 10 Tastes of Guided Walking Food Tour: $70
- Amsterdam : Guided Cultural Food Tour: $80
- Amsterdam Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $86
- Dutch Food Tour with local guide: $90
- Amsterdam Morning Food Tour & Stroopwafel Workshop: $91
- 10 Tastes of Amsterdam Food Tour: Small Group, Full Meal & Drinks: $96
- Private Dutch Pancake Cooking Class in an Amsterdam Canal Home: $109
- Authentic Amsterdam Food Tour: De Pijp & Albert Cuyp Market: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Amsterdam $41
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- Half Day Giraffe Center,Baby Elephant&Karen Blixxen Guided Tour: $34
- Nairobi African Shopping Tour: $55
- Guided "Matatu" Experience Half Day Tour Within Nairobi.: $60
- Nairobi: Private Cultural Tour to Bomas of Kenya: $60
- Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $75
- Nairobi City Tour and Afternoon Visit to Bomas of Kenya: $80
- Half Day Private Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $80
- Ngong Hills Adventure from Nairobi: $85
- Nairobi City Tour with Bomas Of Kenya Visit: $90
- Full-Day Kiambethu Tea Farm Tour From Nairobi with Lunch: $90
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Center Guided Day Tour: $95
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum$6.74
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Entry for two to the Anne Frank House$19
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amsterdam Uncovered: City Center Walking Tour: $1.14
- Self-Guided Tours Amsterdam With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.41
- Amsterdam Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.41
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Amsterdam: $3.41
- The Anne Frank Tour | Amsterdam during WWII: $3.42
- Amsterdam Introductory Walking Tour with a Local: $3.42
- Anne Frank & WWII Jewish Quarter History Walking Tour Amsterdam: $5.59
- Amsterdam History Walking Tour: $5.70
- Amsterdam Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.70
- Museumkwartier Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.70
- Amsterdam’s Magic Canals: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure: $5.80
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Amsterdam $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Amsterdam Nightlife Bar Crawl with Club Entry and Welcome Shots: $18
- Red Light District Bar Crawl: $21
- Red Light District Halloween Pub Crawl & Nightclub: $29
- Red Light District Pub Crawl in Amsterdam with 4 Shots: $34
- Dutch Wine Tasting Experience: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Amsterdam, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Masai Mara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Masai Mara is in Africa and Amsterdam is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Masai Mara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Masai Mara 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam than you might in Masai Mara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Masai Mara Expensive? and Is Amsterdam 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.