Which place is cheaper, Dakar or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nairobi or Dakar?
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 Dakar 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 Dakar?
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.
Dakar
Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Adventure Tours to Senegal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Senegal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $63Dakar $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $63, while the average daily cost in Dakar is $61. 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 Dakar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Dakar $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Dakar $64
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Dakar
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Dakar? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Dakar $5.32
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$9.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $20
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $41
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $35
- Airport Transfers within Nairobi: $30
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $40
- Bush Safaris and Airport transfers: $85
- From 7-Day Kenya Safari Trip with Meals & Transfer: $1,800
- From Kibera Community Walking Tour with Transfer: $50
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: Airport transfers: $50
- Mercedes Viano Private Transfer Luxury Comfort Nairobi : $250
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $26
- VIP AIRPORT TRANSFER: $120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:
- Transfer - DSS Airport <-> Dakar (One way): $66
- Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Dakar (two directions): $82
- DSS Airport Transfer <-> Dakar (Return): $120
- Blaise Diagne Int Airport (DSS): Transfer to Dakar hotels: $209
- AIBD-DAKAR transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Dakar?
Prices for flights to both Dakar 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 $7.63Dakar $19
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$5.11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore experience Lunch Or Dinner (Optional Bomas of kenya ): $40
- Nairobi:Carnivore Restaurant Dinner and Pub Crawling.: $47
- Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $53
- Enjoy Traditional Kenyan Food Cooking Class With a Host.: $53
- Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $55
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $60
- Nairobi Cooking and Food Tasting Activity: $60
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience : $68
- Carnivore Dinner Experience: $80
- Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience: $80
- The Carnivore Restaurant Experience: Lunch Or Dinner: $84
Typical Food Prices in Dakar
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:
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Breakfast$4.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dakar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dakar.
- Senegalese Street Food Tour in Dakar: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $47Dakar $13
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$16
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
- Nairobi cultural shopping experience: $18
- Nairobi City;culture and historical guided tour: $19
- Nairobi City Walking and Historic Tours: $19
- Nairobi;Downtown walking tour: $20
- Kibera slums half day tour from nairobi: $25
- Private Guided Nairobi City and Cultural Walking Tour: $25
- Elephant orphanage, Giraffe center, kobe beads tour: $25
- Half-Day Tour Giraffe Center and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: $25
- Nairobi City tour: $25
- From Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center Tour: $25
- Nairobi city walking tour : $25
Tours and Activities in Dakar
Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mamelles Lighthouse and Ngor Island (Walking Tour): $130
- 2-day tour Lac rose- desert of Lompoul: $290
- Accro Baobab Adventure Ticket Entry: $38
- Dakar City Tour and Goree Island: $162
- Pink Lake and Turtle Village Half-Day Tour: $200
- Private City Tour: $108
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $30
- Day trip Goree island and Dakar city tour : $159
- From Dakar or Saly: Half-Day Tour to Pink Lake: $136
- From Dakar/Saly: Half-Day Bandia Wildlife Reserve Tour: $244
- Full Day Goree Island And Dakar City Tour(Minimum 2 Participants): $142
- Full Day Private Tour in move, eat, act like a local: $109
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Dakar $8.92
When comparing the travel costs between Nairobi and Dakar, we can see that Nairobi is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Dakar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Dakar?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Dakar. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Dakar, 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.