Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi or Kathmandu, 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 Kathmandu?
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.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Moshi Prices
Tanzania PricesKathmandu Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoshi $84Kathmandu $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $84, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $54. 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 Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoshi $36Kathmandu $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoshi $72Kathmandu $68
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Moshi or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moshi $17Kathmandu $5.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi
Also for Moshi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport transfers from any hotel in Zanzibar (Departures): $30
- Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi: $49
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Transfer/Taxi Services: $53
- Kilimanjaro Airport JRO Private Taxi Transfer: $55
- Reliable Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $55
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
- Airport Transfer between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport: $82
- Moshi to Arusha or Arusha to Moshi Transfer (Intercity transfer): $93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $13
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels: $244
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
- Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Nagarkot with return transfers from Kathmandu: $168
- Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $154
- Private One-Way Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara/Chitwan/Lumbini: $80
- Private Luxury Car Transfer all over Nepal: $88
- Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
- Private Airport Transfer to Kathmandu Hotels: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $34Kathmandu $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi
For Moshi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kili View Tanzanian Cooking Class: $26
- Kilimanjaro : Cooking, Brew, Hiking & Feast in Materuni Village: $60
- Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi with a Local Family: $79
- Private Market Tour and Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi: $109
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.16
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Dinner for Two$2.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- Momo, Dhalbhat & Thukpa Cooking Class, Nepal: $25
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
- Cooking Class with Vyas: $49
- Newari Cooking Class with a Home Chef- From market to the plate.: $50
- Kathmandu Best Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $53
- Authentic Kathmandu Cooking Class and Guided Market Tour: $59
- Half Day Nepal Cooking Class in Thamel: $60
- Cooking Class with HSJ: $60
- Authentic Nepali Dinner with Live Cultural Show: $65
- Nepali Cultural Dinner: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moshi $19Kathmandu $6.92
Tours and Activities in Moshi
For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Moshi sunset experience: $12
- Moshi City Tour: Explore the Foothill of Kilimanjaro on Foot: $20
- Moshi/Arusha: Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour & Hot Springs: $21
- Moshi Coffee Plantation & Chagga Culture Half-Day Tour: $25
- Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Plantations & Banana beer experiences: $27
- Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Plantation Half Day Tour: $30
- Materuni Waterfalls Hike and Organic Coffee Brewing Half day Tour: $30
- Materuni Waterfall & Chemka Hot Springs Day Tour: $30
- Kilimanjaro coffee farms cycling tour: $40
- Moshi city tour: $40
- 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50
- Bodaboda Experience to Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $52
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.29
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.23
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.29
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
- 1 Day Kathmandu Heritage 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch: $99
- 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
- 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
- 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
- 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
- 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146
- 2 Days Private Tour from Chitlang to Markhu: $210
- 2 Days and 1 Night Chitwan Safari Tour: $125
- 2 Night 3 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $235
- 2-Days Kathmandu Valley Tour and Visit 7-UNESCO Sites, Homestay: $250
- 20 Ponds Walking Heritage Tour in Bhaktapur: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoshi $3.37Kathmandu $4.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $50
- Bar Tour and Pub Crawl Sip Stroll Repeat Thamel Night: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moshi and Kathmandu, we can see that Moshi is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Moshi is in Africa and Kathmandu is in Asia, 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 Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moshi Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moshi or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Moshi. When comparing the sizes of Moshi and Kathmandu, 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.