A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nairobi vs. Kampala for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nairobi or Kampala?

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 Kampala 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 Kampala?

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 $60, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $71. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nairobi and Kampala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $11
    Kampala $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $22
    Kampala $120
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Kampala

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Kampala? 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.

Hotels in Nairobi


Hotels in Kampala


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 Kampala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $10
    Kampala $2.53
Typical Local Transportation prices in Nairobi

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:


  • Taxi from Airport
    $8.92

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi

Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 4 X 4 Land cruiser and Jeep transfer to Masai Mara hotels: $220
  • 4 X 4 Toyota Land-Cruiser Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve from Nairobi: $750
  • 4 by 4 land cruiser and Jeep transfer to Maasai mara Hotels: $960
  • Airport & Hotel Private Vehicle Transfers: $50
  • Airport Transfer (one Way): $75
  • Airport Transfer from Jomo kenyatta international airport Nairobi Kenya: $25
  • Airport Transfers: $15
  • Airport Transfers: $45
  • Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
  • Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $19
  • Airport Transfers within Nairobi: $20
  • Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels: $55

Typical Local Transportation prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $4.05

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Nairobi $7.21
    Kampala $8.52
Typical Food prices in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner for Two
    $4.83

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: $19
  • Cultural Tour:Bomas of Kenya and Dinner Experince Carnivore Restaurant: $40
  • Carnivore restaurant lunch or dinner from Nairobi: $45
  • Visit market tour and cooking class: kenyan food with a home cook: $50
  • Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
  • Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $61
  • Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience: $65
  • Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $65
  • Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
  • Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $72
  • Dinner/Lunch Eating Experience Carnivore Restaurant & Transport: $75
  • Lonely Planet Experiences: Nairobi Nightlife Tour and Dinner: $77

Typical Food prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.62

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.

  • Cooking class for typical Ugandan food: $31
  • Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
  • Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
  • Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
  • Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
  • Kampala cooking tour: $133
  • Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
  • Kampala food tour: $205

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $45
    Kampala -
Typical Entertainment prices in Nairobi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • 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:

  • Karen Blixen Museum Admission Ticket: $15
  • Memorable Daily KIBERA Slums/Toi Market Tour with Locals (2 hours): $20
  • Nairobi Half-Day Tour in a Museum, Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center: $24
  • Nairobi Cultural Shopping Experience: $26
  • Mathare Community Slum Tour: $26
  • David Sheldrick Half-Day Tour: $30
  • Kibera Slum Tour: $30
  • Nairobi Historical Walking City Tour: $31
  • Carnivore Restaurant: A Unique Eating Experience in Nairobi: $31
  • Half-Day Trip David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre Tour in Nairobi: $35
  • Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Former Street Kids: $35
  • 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:

  • 08 days Classic Uganda Primate Tour: $3,528
  • 1 Day Art Tour: $80
  • 1 Day Greater Kampala City Tour: $308
  • 1 Day Jinja and Source of the Nile Tour: $308
  • 1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour: $232
  • 1 Day Kampala City Boda Boda (motocycle) Tour: $100
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $120
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $120
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour with Zumba and Salsa: $218
  • 1 Day Kampala city tour: $144
  • 1 Day Kampala city tour: $130
  • 1 Day Uganda Equator Tour.: $188

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $15
    Kampala -

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Pub Crawl Kampala (6 Hours): $20
  • Kampala Pub Crawl: $60


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Kampala, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Kampala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kampala than you might in Nairobi.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.

Share This Page
Pin This Page
Nairobi vs. Kampala Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.