Which place is cheaper, Helsinki 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 Helsinki?
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 Helsinki. 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 Helsinki?
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.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best 10-Day Tours in Finland, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland.
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Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesHelsinki Prices
Finland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $133Helsinki $191
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, while the average daily cost in Helsinki is $191. 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 Helsinki in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Helsinki $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Helsinki $170
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Helsinki
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Helsinki? 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: Masai Mara Hotel Prices and Helsinki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Helsinki $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:
- Nairobi Airport (NBO) Private Transfer to Nairobi City/Hotels: $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Helsinki City Private Departure Transfer to Helsinki Airport HEL: $66
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Helsinki to Helsinki Airport (HEL) - Departure Private Transfer: $69
- Helsinki West Terminal to Helsinki Airport (HEL) - Departure Private Transfer: $69
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $69
- Private VIP Transfer from or to Helsinki Airport: $79
- Minivan Departure Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $83
- Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki city centre to Helsinki airport: $84
- Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki (HEL) Airport to City centre: $84
- Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Helsinki by Business Car: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Helsinki?
Prices for flights to both Helsinki 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 $57Helsinki $69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.
- Nairobi Private Carnivore Dinner Experience: $125
- Chiyo Japanese and Korean Restaurant Dinner with Cat Dance Show: $155
- Nairobi National Museum and Carnivore Restaurant Food Tour: $275
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Helsinki Authentic Walking Food Tour with 8 Local Tastings: $121
- From Moose & Wildlife Safari with Campfire Dinner: $172
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $176
- Stones & Slices: Raasepori Castle Ruins, Ekenäs Old Town & Pizza: $236
- Helsinki Food Tour: A Culinary Experience with a Local: $271
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Helsinki $32
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- Amboseli N Park Day tour with optional Maasai village visit: $200
- Amboseli national park full day tour: $160
- Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
- Cultural Day Tour to Bomas of Kenya Nairobi: $51
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $55
- Day Tour to Amboseli National Park: $300
- Day Tour to Maasai Mara Reserve From Nairobi: $225
- Day tour to Giraffe Center and Karen Blixen Museum: $95
- Day tour to Giraffe center and Karen Blixen Nairobi: $95
- Full day Crescent Island and Hell's Gate Park Cycling Tour: $295
- Full-Day Bird Watching Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $195
- Giraffe Center Guided Tour from Nairobi: $65
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Helsinki Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.62
- Helsinki Historic Downtown Self Guided Walking Audio Tour: $7.19
- A Self-Guided Tour of Helsinki's Oodi Central Library: $9.99
- Helsinki Christmas Lights Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP: $9.99
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Helsinki's Historical Highlights: $12
- A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $24
- Discover Helsinki City Walk - Multiple Tours Daily: $24
- Suomenlinna Ferry and Guided Walking Tour in the Fortress: $31
- Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki: $33
- Helsinki City Highlights Cruise: $34
- Helsinki Canal Cruise: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Helsinki $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Helsinki, we can see that Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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.