Which place is cheaper, Durban or Moshi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Moshi or Durban?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi or Durban, 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 Durban?
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.
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoshi $71Durban $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $71, while the average daily cost in Durban is $52. 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 Durban in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoshi $37Durban $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoshi $74Durban $48
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Durban
Looking for a hotel in Moshi or Durban? 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 Durban Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moshi $17Durban $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi
Also for Moshi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Moshi to Arusha: $250
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer : $60
- Transfer Services: Kilimanjaro Airport (jro) Moshi, & Arusha: $60
- Airport transfer to Arusha/Moshi: $55
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi : $49
- Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
- Airport Transfer From Kilimanjaro International Airport 7 Seater: $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $107
- Private Transfers - Minibus - Durban Arrivals and Departures: $32
- Private Sedan Transfers - Durban King Shaka: $35
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $500
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Durban Cruise Ship Transfers : $39
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Departure Private Transfer: Durban City to Durban Airport DUR by Business Car: $76
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Business Car: $78
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Durban?
Prices for flights to both Durban 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 $20Durban $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moshi $19Durban $16
Tours and Activities in Moshi
For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Day Trip Tour to Arusha National Park from Arusha town: $282
- #1. Best Kilimanjaro Day Hike Tour-Machame Route-ISMANI: $92
- #1. Best Kilimanjaro Day Hike tour- ISMANI TOURS AND SAFARIS: $108
- 1 Day Materuni Water falls and coffee tour: $200
- 1 Day Tour Covering Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Plantation: $220
- 1 day tour hike mount kilimanjaro through marangu route: $240
- 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50
- 1Day Tour Materuni Waterfall and Kikuletwa Chemka Hotspring: $172
- 1_Day Bike Tour to Chemka Hotspring: $80
- 2-Days Kilimanjaro Hikes and Materuni Waterfalls Tour: $695
- 5 DAY- KIKULETWA HOT SPRING TOUR: $200
- 6 Days Tanzania safari,coffee&waterfalls experience: $2,926
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 1/2 Day Durban City & Phezulu Tour From Durban: $149
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $122
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $155
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $145
- 1/2 Day Phezulu Safari Tour from Durban: $149
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $151
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park Tour from Durban: $151
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $150
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $152
- 12 Days Best Of South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to CapeTown: $3,353
- 15 Day Tour Cape Town to Johannesburg: $3,151
- 2 Day Hluhluwe Imfolo & Isimangaliso W/Park Tour from Durban: $634
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoshi $3.45Durban $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moshi and Durban, we can see that Moshi is more expensive. And not only is Durban much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durban would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durban 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 Durban.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moshi Expensive? and Is Durban Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moshi or Durban?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Moshi. When comparing the sizes of Moshi and Durban, 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.