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.
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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.
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Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesTartu Prices
Estonia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $133Tartu $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, while the average daily cost in Tartu is $154. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Tartu $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Tartu $108
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
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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
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Food Meals for one dayMasai Mara $57Tartu $75
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
Typical Food Prices in Tartu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tartu:
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Danishes$0.88
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Lunch for Two$5.72
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Ice Cream$1.47
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Cookies$0.59
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Coffee & Cake$4.03
Entertainment
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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:
- 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
- Carnivore Restaurant Nairobi Eating Experience with Transport: $145
- Cultural Day Tour to Bomas of Kenya Nairobi: $51
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $55
- Day Tour Nairobi National Park Giraffe Center and Karen Blixen: $275
- Day Tour to Amboseli National Park: $300
- Day Tour to Maasai Mara Reserve From Nairobi: $225
- Day tour to Giraffe center and Karen Blixen Nairobi: $95
- Full day Crescent Island and Hell's Gate Park Cycling Tour: $295
- Giraffe Center Guided Tour from Nairobi: $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tartu
For Tartu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Art Museum ticket$1.11
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Movie Ticket$4.03
Tours and Activities in Tartu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tartu.
- Around Viljandi bike tour: $29
- TARTU COUNTRY: SLED DOG TOUR AND KENNEL VISIT: $141
- Private Horse-Drawn Sleigh Adventures: $211
- Charming Viljandi Private Walking Tour for Couples: $255
- Magical Tartu Romantic Private Walking Tour: $751
- Dazzling Tartu City Cultural Private Walking Tour: $751
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Tartu $18
When comparing the travel costs between Masai Mara and Tartu, we can see that Tartu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Masai Mara is in Africa and Tartu is in Europe, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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.