A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Masai Mara vs. Zurich for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Masai Mara or Zurich?

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 Zurich. 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 Zurich?

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.

Zurich

Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland.


Which place is cheaper, Zurich 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, while the average daily cost in Zurich is $354. 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 Zurich in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Masai Mara $37
    Zurich $192
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Masai Mara $74
    Zurich $384
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Zurich

Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Zurich? 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.

Hotels in Masai Mara


Hotels in Zurich


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: Zurich Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Masai Mara $48
    Zurich $40

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:


  • City Pass (2)
    $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:

  • Private One-way Airport Transfer from Zurich Airport to Zurich: $69
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport: $69
  • Private Zurich Airport Transfers to and from Zurich Hotels: $70
  • Transfer from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Zurich City Center: $81
  • Private Transfer Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich by Luxury Sedan: $87
  • Private Transfer Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Sedan: $87
  • From Zurich Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer To Zurich Hotel: $88
  • Airport Transfer: Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Business Car: $96
  • Airport Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich by Business Car: $96
  • Departure Private Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Van: $101
  • Departure Transfer from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Private Car/Van: $101
  • Private Transfer: Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Van: $103

Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Zurich?

Prices for flights to both Zurich 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 day
    Masai Mara $57
    Zurich $121

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

Typical Food Prices in Zurich

Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:


  • Breakfast for 2
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zurich

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zurich.

  • Zurich Food Tour with 10 Local Delicacies, Cheeses & Chocolates: $174
  • Taste Zurich – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Masai Mara $60
    Zurich $40

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
  • Guided "Matatu" Experience Half Day Tour Within Nairobi.: $60
  • Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
  • Giraffe Center and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour: $72
  • Nairobi National Park Half Day Tour From Nairobi: $75
  • David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $75
  • Half Day Private Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $80
  • Nairobi City Tour and Afternoon Visit to Bomas of Kenya: $80
  • Nairobi Souvenir Shopping and Historical Half day Tour: $95
  • Day tour to Giraffe Center and Karen Blixen Museum: $95
  • Nairobi National Park Guided Day Tour From Nairobi: $95

Tours and Activities in Zurich

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:

  • Zurich Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.80
  • Zurich Audio Guided Walking Tour 1h45 and 20 audio reviews: $6.84
  • St Gallen Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.95
  • Stein am Rhein Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $8.78
  • Neuhausen Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $8.78
  • Zurich Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
  • TOP Zurich : Private guided tour with your mobile: $12
  • Zurich Historic Old Town Audio Self Guided Tour: $12
  • Historical Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Through the city of 1,000 Fountains: $15
  • Guided Walking Tour: $25
  • City tour Archaeology in Zurich: $25
  • City tour Zurich milieu: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Masai Mara $26
    Zurich $33


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Zurich, we can see that Zurich 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 Zurich 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich 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 Zurich Expensive?.