Should you visit Nairobi or Kampala?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Nairobi and Kampala can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.
Which city is cheaper, Kampala or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $58, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $59. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Nairobi and Kampala in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $22 for a double occupancy room in Nairobi If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $50. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Kampala the cost is $100 on average.
Food
The average traveler spends about $7.07 per day in Nairobi for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The average traveler spends about $7.17 per day in Kampala for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nairobi $7.07
Kampala $7.17
Typical Food prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi:
$19
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Cultural Tour:Bomas of Kenya and Dinner Experince Carnivore Restaurant:
$40
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Carnivore restaurant lunch or dinner from Nairobi:
$45
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Visit market tour and cooking class: kenyan food with a home cook:
$50
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Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi:
$60
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Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local:
$61
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Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience:
$65
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Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi:
$65
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Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch:
$65
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Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local:
$72
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Dinner/Lunch Eating Experience Carnivore Restaurant & Transport:
$75
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Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi:
$86
Typical Food prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
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Cooking class for typical Ugandan food:
$31
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Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours):
$56
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Kampala City Walking Food Tour:
$77
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Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour:
$91
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Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop:
$102
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Amazing Race - Food Tour:
$103
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Kampala cooking tour:
$133
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Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours):
$147
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Kampala food tour:
$205
Local Transportation
Nairobi's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $10 per person, per day on transportation in Nairobi.
The cost of a taxi ride in Kampala is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $2.13 per person, per day, on local transportation in Kampala.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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4 X 4 Land cruiser and Jeep transfer to Masai Mara hotels:
$220
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4 X 4 Toyota Land-Cruiser Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve from Nairobi:
$750
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4 by 4 land cruiser and Jeep transfer to Maasai mara Hotels:
$960
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Airport & Hotel Private Vehicle Transfers:
$50
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Airport Transfer (one Way):
$75
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Airport Transfer from Jomo kenyatta international airport Nairobi Kenya:
$25
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Airport Transfers:
$15
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Airport Transfers:
$45
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Airport Transfers In Nairobi City:
$67
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Airport Transfers in Nairobi:
$19
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Airport Transfers within Nairobi:
$20
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Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels:
$55
Typical Local Transportation prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
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Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda:
$146
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Kampala?
Prices for flights to both Kampala 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Nairobi can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $44 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Karen Blixen Museum Admission Ticket:
$15
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Memorable Daily KIBERA Slums/Toi Market Tour with Locals (2 hours):
$20
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Nairobi Half-Day Tour in a Museum, Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center:
$24
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Nairobi Cultural Shopping Experience:
$26
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Mathare Community Slum Tour:
$26
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Kibera Slum Tour:
$30
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David Sheldrick Half-Day Tour:
$30
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Nairobi Historical Walking City Tour:
$31
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Carnivore Restaurant: A Unique Eating Experience in Nairobi:
$31
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Half-Day Trip David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre Tour in Nairobi:
$35
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Riverside shuttle bus daily Nairobi Arusha Moshi Kilimanjaro shuttle bus Ticket:
$35
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Nairobi African Shopping Tour:
$35
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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08 days Classic Uganda Primate Tour:
$3,528
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1 Day Art Tour:
$80
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1 Day Greater Kampala City Tour:
$308
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1 Day Jinja and Source of the Nile Tour:
$308
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1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour:
$232
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1 Day Kampala City Boda Boda (motocycle) Tour:
$100
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1 Day Kampala City Tour:
$120
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1 Day Kampala City Tour:
$120
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1 Day Kampala City Tour with Zumba and Salsa:
$218
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1 Day Kampala city tour:
$130
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1 Day Kampala city tour:
$144
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1 Day Uganda Equator Tour.:
$188
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Nairobi spend on average $15 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
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Pub Crawl Kampala (6 Hours):
$20
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Kampala Pub Crawl:
$60
When comparing the travel costs between Nairobi and Kampala, we can see that Kampala 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.
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