Which place is cheaper, Tartu 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 Tartu?
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 Tartu. 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 Tartu?
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.
Tartu
Tartu is a university town that is also the second largest city in Estonia. It has a population of about 100,000 and dates back to 1030, making it the oldest city in the country. The Emajogi River passes through town and it has a lovely old town that's pleasant to explore. The city is a great place to see day to day life in Estonia. It is a very real town with people going about their daily lives. If you find yourself here when the weather is nice, you'll be greeted by crowds of happy locals out enjoying the weather. They make full use of the warm, sunny weather with festivals, events, and concerts during the summer. This is easily the most fun and eventful time to visit the city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Estonia, and The Best Budget Tours to Estonia.
-
Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesTartu Prices
Estonia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $132Tartu $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $132, while the average daily cost in Tartu is $155. 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 Tartu in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Tartu $55
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Tartu $110
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Tartu
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Tartu? 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 Tartu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Tartu $32
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Tartu?
Prices for flights to both Tartu 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 $57Tartu $76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.
- Carnivore experience Lunch Or Dinner (Optional Bomas of kenya ): $40
Typical Food Prices in Tartu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tartu:
-
Danishes$0.89
-
Lunch for Two$5.78
-
Ice Cream$1.49
-
Cookies$0.59
-
Coffee & Cake$4.07
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Tartu $19
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- Airport Layover Tour to Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center: $225
- Amboseli national park full day tour: $160
- Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
- Day Tour To Mt. Kenya : $285
- Fairview Coffee Farm Day Tour in Nairobi: $120
- Full Day Tour Nairobi National Park, Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Center: $275
- Giraffe Center Half-Day Guided Tour from Nairobi: $75
- Half Day Giraffe Center,Baby Elephant&Karen Blixxen Guided Tour: $38
- Half Day Private Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $80
- Nairobi African Shopping Tour: $55
- Nairobi City Tour and Afternoon Visit to Bomas of Kenya: $80
- Nairobi Museum KICC Tower Kobe and Bomas of Kenya Day Tour: $115
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tartu
For Tartu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Art Museum ticket$1.12
-
Movie Ticket$4.07
Tours and Activities in Tartu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tartu.
- Around Viljandi bike tour: $30
- TARTU COUNTRY: SLED DOG TOUR AND KENNEL VISIT: $141
- Charming Viljandi Private Walking Tour for Couples: $260
- Magical Tartu Romantic Private Walking Tour: $751
- Dazzling Tartu City Cultural Private Walking Tour: $751
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Tartu $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Tartu, we can see that Tartu 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 Tartu 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 Tartu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tartu 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 Tartu 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.