Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Calgary can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Calgary?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesCalgary Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67Calgary $171
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $171. 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 Nairobi and Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Calgary $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Calgary $142
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Calgary? 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Calgary $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer (one Way): $80
- Airport Transfers: $40
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $28
- Airport transfer; NBO to nairobi hotels: $27
- Airport transfers in Nairobi: $60
- From JKIA Airport Nairobi Private Transfer in a Car 3 Pax Max: $35
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- Nairobi Airport Transfers: $69
- Nairobi Airport Transfers: $50
- Nairobi Airport Transfers to Wilson Airport and Hotels: $40
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Transfer Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise: $71
- Rocky Mountain Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $118
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Luxury SUV: $132
- Private Transfer to Banff from Calgary or Airport: $202
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury Van: $135
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury SUV: $135
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Business Car: $113
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury SUV: $135
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $113
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary Hotels: $95
- Private Shuttle from Calgary/ YYCAirport/Canmore/Banff Transfers: $78
- Limousine Sedan Airport Transfer Service in YYC Calgary Airport: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Calgary $52
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience: $68
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Traditional Kikuyu Cooking Class In My Village: $100
Typical Food Prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
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Bread, Chips, Cheese$7.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
- Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $78
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $124
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $127
- Asian Cooking Class (Includes 6-Course Meal): $135
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Calgary $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fashion African Fabric & Souvenir Market Tour: $12
- Nairobi Matatu Culture Experience: $18
- Nairobi City Tour +Pickup: $19
- Nairobi Walking City Tour +pick-up: $20
- Nairobi’s ultimate Walking City Tour with Hotel pickup: $20
- Kibera Chocolate City Tour: $22
- Nairobi City Walk Tour +pickup: $22
- Nairobi Green Bus City Sightseeing Tour 4 Hours: $23
- Giraffe Center Karen Blixen and Kobe Beads Day Tour: $25
- Discover Nairobi City with Student Led Walking Tour: $25
- Nairobi City Tour: $25
- Nairobi Cultural Shopping Experience: $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stampede Admission (for 2)$21
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Tour Drumheller Royal Tyrrell Museum from Calgary: $112
- 1-Day Private Premium Drumheller & Badlands Tour: $246
- 2 Day Guided Tour in Banff National Park: $235
- 3-Day Stampede & Canadian Rockies Tour: $1,691
- 5 Lakes Tour Louise and Moraine Emerald Peyto Takakkaw Falls: $112
- 6-Hour Private City Tour Drive to Calgary Tower: $669
- A Spectacular Audio Tour : Calgary Adventure: $15
- Badlands Small Group Guided Tour: Calgary to Drumheller Dinosaurs: $86
- Badlands Tour: Drumheller with Museum, Hoodoos & Dinosaurs: $93
- Banff & Jasper: Columbia Icefield, Bow Lake Peyto Lake Tour: $70
- Banff Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Calgary: $252
- Banff Gondola Hot Springs Bow Falls and Three Lakes tour: $72
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Calgary $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Food and Wine Tasting Experience at Five Senses Restaurant: $155
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- An Epic Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Brewery Tours at Award Winning Venues: $80
- Brewery Tour: $85
- Craft Your Own Gin at Burwood Distillery: $90
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $94
- Calgary to Banff Brewery Tour and Lunch: $143
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Calgary, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Calgary is in North America, 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 Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary than you might in Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Calgary?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Calgary. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Calgary, 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.