Which place is cheaper, Kampala 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 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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesKampala Prices
Uganda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67Kampala $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $79. 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 Kampala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Kampala $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Kampala $124
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Kampala $2.61
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$9.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- AIRPORTS AND HOTELS TRANSFERS- IN NAIROBI: $40
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi: $20
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $47
- Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels : $55
- From JKIA Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax max): $35
- From Mount Kenya Day Hike with Transfers: $270
- From Wilson Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax): $30
- Hotel, Airport Transfers in Nairobi : $35
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
- Masai Mara from Nairobi Transfer: $70
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- Nairobi - Maasai Mara Shuttle Transfers. : $61
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $80
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $80
- Guided City Tour with Private Transfers: $150
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- Full Day Kampala Religious Private Tour with Transfers: $150
- Entebbe kampala airport transfers: $100
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
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
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Food Meals for one dayNairobi $13Kampala $15
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$5.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Hour Gastronomic and Street Food tour of Nairobi: $40
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi.: $48
- Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi: $50
- Traditional Cuisines Cooking Experience And Class.: $52
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
- Kibera Slum Bomas of Kenya and Dinner at Carnivore Nairobi: $55
- Nairobi Cooking and Food Tasting Activity: $60
- Matatu Ride and Street Food Tour: $60
- Authentic Kenyan Cooking Class & Market Tour in Nairobi: $63
- Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $63
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $65
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
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Lunch for 2$1.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Like a local cooking Tours: $26
- Cooking Class for Typical Ugandan Food in Kampala: $32
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $45
- Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Three-Hour Food Tour: $71
- Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Nighttime Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
- The Food Tour | Uganda | Half day: $123
- Kampala cooking tour: $133
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Kampala -
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:
- City Highlights,history Walking Tour: $15
- Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
- Nairobi Historic Downtown City WalkingTour: $15
- Downtown Walking Tour with Local Guide: $18
- City Guided Walking Tour: $20
- Authentic Nairobi Walking Tour with Local Guide: $20
- Nairobi Walking City Culture Tour: $20
- Kibera Chocolate City Tour: $22
- Nairobi Souvenir Shopping Tour: $23
- Kibera Slum storytelling tour with a Local: $23
- Nairobi:historical walking tour with a local guide: $23
- Experience Nairobi Night Life Partying in the City and Beyond: $25
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover the Magic of Uganda's Equator on a 1-Day Tour: $136
- 1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Lake Victoria: $150
- 1 Day Jinja and the source of River Nile (Airpals Safaris Tour): $150
- 1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour: $290
- 1 Day Kampala city tour: $162
- 1 Day Kampala city tour Uganda: $200
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $290
- 1 day Mabamba (Shoebill) bird watching tour - Shoebill & canoe tour: $205
- 1 day Uganda Equator Experience : $200
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
- 1-Day Uganda Rhino Trekking Tour Experience: $239
- 1/2 Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tour : $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Kampala -
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Nairobi bar crawl:Drink and Mingle: $23
- Nairobi Ultimate Bar Crawl: $60
- Food and Wine Tasting Experience at Five Senses Restaurant: $155
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
- Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
- Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Kampala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Kampala?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Kampala, 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.