Which place is cheaper, Pokhara 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Masai Mara or Pokhara?
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 Pokhara. 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 Pokhara?
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.
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
-
Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesPokhara Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $132Pokhara $21
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $132, while the average daily cost in Pokhara is $21. 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 Pokhara in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Pokhara $3.37
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Pokhara $6.74
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Pokhara
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Pokhara? 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: Pokhara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Pokhara $6.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
-
Short Taxi Ride$0.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
- Airport Transfer by Private Car: $11
- Transfer To Kathmandu (VIP Sofa Tourist Bus) & Back: $12
- Pokhara Airport Shuttles & Private Transfer: $15
- Pokhara ↔️ Kathmandu: VIP Luxury Sofa Bus Transfer (Rainbow): $16
- Annapurna Foothills Day Hike with Transfers: $38
- From Private Car Transfer To Chitwan: $59
- Comfortable Private Transfer from Pokhara to Chitwan: $66
- Private Transfer:- Pokhara to Chitwan (Sauraha) by car: $68
- White Water Rafting Half Day with Hotel Transfers: $70
- One way transfer To or From Chitwan: $73
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara by Car, Jeep & Hiace: $73
- Pokhara to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Pokhara?
Prices for flights to both Pokhara 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
-
Food Meals for one dayMasai Mara $57Pokhara $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.
- Nairobi Nightlife and Safari Park Hotel Dinner with Pick Up: $125
- Nairobi Private Carnivore Dinner Experience: $125
- Nairobi City Walking Tour with Lunch/Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $165
- Nairobi National Museum and Carnivore Restaurant Food Tour: $275
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
-
Dinner for Two$3.88
-
Dessert (for 2)$2.59
-
Pastries$1.29
-
Dinner$5.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
- Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara: $21
- Nepali Nights: Dinner & Cultural Dance Delight in Pokhara: $26
- MoMo or Dal Bhat Cooking Class at Aama Kitchen in Pokhara: $29
- Nepalese Kitchen in Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class: $29
- 3 Hour MoMo cooking class: $31
- Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop: $42
- 3 Hour Authentic Nepali Thakali Dish Cooking Class: $45
- Thakali food Cooking Class in Pokhara: $50
- Nepali Cooking Class in Pokhara with a Local Family: $60
- 1 Day Momo making cooking class: $75
- Tour with Dinner to Trout Fish Farm - Bhujung River: $98
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Pokhara $6.26
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: $38
- Cultural Day Tour to Bomas of Kenya Nairobi: $51
- Nairobi African Shopping Tour: $55
- Nairobi: Private Cultural Tour to Bomas of Kenya: $60
- Guided "Matatu" Experience Half Day Tour Within Nairobi.: $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
- 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
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sarangkot Sunrise with Half or Full-Day City Tour: $7.47
- From Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour: $7.84
- Pokhara to Chitwan Tourist Bus Sofa seater: $9.00
- Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas: Tour 3 hour private tour: $9.16
- Quick Devi’s Water Fall Tour: $9.26
- Guided Evening Walking Tour in Lakeside: $9.52
- Visit Best Seven Tourist Destination by Sharing Bus: $9.52
- Paragliding, Bungy Jump and Zipline Combo Adventure: $10
- City Sightseeing Group Budget Bus Tour: $10
- Pokhara Places of Interest Tour by Sharing Bus: $10
- Sarangkot Sunrise & Private Full-Day Highlights Tour: $10
- Pokhara to Kathmandu Tourist Sofa Bus: $10
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Pokhara $5.65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Pokhara, we can see that Masai Mara is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Masai Mara is in Africa and Pokhara is in Asia, 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 Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 Masai Mara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Masai Mara than you might in Pokhara.
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 Pokhara 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.