Which place is cheaper, Addis Ababa or Moshi?
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 Moshi or Addis Ababa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi or Addis Ababa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Moshi or Addis Ababa?
Moshi
Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania.
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Moshi Prices
Tanzania PricesAddis Ababa Prices
Ethiopia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoshi $82Addis Ababa $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $82, while the average daily cost in Addis Ababa is $34. 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 Moshi and Addis Ababa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoshi $36Addis Ababa $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoshi $72Addis Ababa $38
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Addis Ababa
Looking for a hotel in Moshi or Addis Ababa? 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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Addis Ababa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moshi $17Addis Ababa $3.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi
Also for Moshi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Moshi:Maasai Boma Cultural Experience-Day Trip with Transfer: $295
- Maasai Boma Cultural Experience-1 Day with Transfers: $295
- Moshi:Maasai Boma Cultural Experience-Day Trip with Transfer: $295
- Moshi : Kikuletwa Hot Springs Day Trip with Transfers: $172
- KILI TRANSFERS AND ADVENTURES: $140
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi/Arusha: $107
- Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) Private Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro: $78
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer : $60
- Transfer Services: Kilimanjaro Airport (jro) Moshi, & Arusha: $60
- Airport Transfer to/from Kilimanjaro Airport JRO/Arusha ARK: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi : $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Half Day Addis Ababa City Tour with Airport /Hotel transfer: $29
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $40
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
- Bole Airport Transfer: $25
- Addis Ababa Airport transfer and shuttle service(privet): $17
- Addis Ababa Airport pickup and Transfer: $34
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Addis Ababa?
Prices for flights to both Addis Ababa and Moshi 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 dayMoshi $33Addis Ababa $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi
For Moshi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dee's Private Cooking Class in Tanzania: $50
- Moshi, Tanzania: Traditional Cooking Class with Local Family: $65
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa
For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class, Injera baking & coffee ceremony: $48
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $58
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
- Ethiopian cooking class: $68
- Totot Cultural Feast & Rhythm Show With Dinner: $75
- Addis Ababa Private City Tour with Immersive Cooking Class Lunch: $77
- Private City Tour with Folkloric Dinner: $80
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $86
- Half Day Food Tour Addis Ababa With Airport pickUp And Drop-Off: $90
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moshi $18Addis Ababa $3.47
Tours and Activities in Moshi
For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Materuni Village Tour | Materuni waterfalls | materuni coffee tour: $91
- #1 Best Tanzania Safari Tarangire Day tour Adventure : $200
- #1. Best Kilimanjaro Day Hike Marangu Route-ISMANI TOURS: $108
- #1. Best Kilimanjaro Day hike Tour-Machame Route-ISMANI: $104
- 1 Day Arusha city, HotSpring, Materuni Waterfall,Coffee tour: $55
- 1 Day Hot Spring, Waterfall, & Coffee Farm Tour exprience: $50
- 1 Day Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour & Picnic Hot Lunch: $190
- 1 Day Tour to Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour: $128
- 1 day tour hike mount kilimanjaro through marangu route: $240
- 1 day tour materuni waterfalls and chemka hotspring: $290
- 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50
- 1_Day Bike Tour to Chemka Hotspring: $64
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- "Discover An Exclusive Private Tour Experience": $69
- "Awash National Park Safari Experience": $280
- 1 Day Addis Ababa City Tour: $180
- 2 Days Awash National Park Safari Tours: $311
- 3 Day Private Meskel Festival, Addis Ababa City and Debre Libanos Monastery Tour: $300
- 3 Days Meskel Festival Package-Addis Ababa City Tour/Debre Libanos Monastery: $256
- 3 Days Rock Hewn Churches Cultural Tour in Lalibela: $300
- 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $65
- 4 Hours Addis Ababa highlights city tour from Bole airport: $75
- A guided tour of Addis Abeba that includes a city viewpoint: $69
- Addis Ababa +Mount Entoto View Point,Museums Palace Market Tours: $69
- Addis Ababa AFull day experience history culture &local acti: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoshi $3.32Addis Ababa $2.86
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $58
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moshi and Addis Ababa, we can see that Moshi is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Moshi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moshi than you might in Addis Ababa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moshi Expensive? and Is Addis Ababa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moshi or Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Moshi. When comparing the sizes of Moshi and Addis Ababa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.