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

Should you visit Nairobi or Leiden?

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 Leiden 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 Leiden?

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.

Leiden

Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.


Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Nairobi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $68, while the average daily cost in Leiden is $187. 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 Leiden in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $12
    Leiden $90
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $24
    Leiden $180
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Leiden

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Leiden? 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 Leiden


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 Leiden Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $11
    Leiden $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi

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


  • Taxi from Airport
    $9.27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi

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

  • Safe and Private Airport transfer in Nairobi: $20
  • Safe and Executive Airport transfer in Nairobi: $40
  • Safe Private Airport transfer in Nairobi: $30
  • Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli: $200
  • Professional Airport Transfer Service in Nairobi: $33
  • Private Transfers from Nairobi Airport to Hotels: $100
  • Private Transfer to Naivasha from Nairobi: $80
  • Private Transfer in Nairobi for Pax with Disability: $40
  • Private Transfer in Nairobi: $180
  • Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or City to Mara by road: $135
  • Private Shuttle Van Transfer: $100
  • Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden

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

  • Private Tour of The Hague and Leiden including Transfer: $248
  • Premium electric transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $100
  • Historical Private Tour of Delft and Leiden including Transfer: $259

Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Leiden?

Prices for flights to both Leiden 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 $13
    Leiden $77
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi

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


  • 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:

  • Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
  • Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
  • Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
  • Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
  • Dinner/Lunch Eating Experience Carnivore Restaurant & Transport: $75
  • Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
  • Nairobi Nightlife and Safari Park Hotel Dinner Experience: $90
  • Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
  • Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
  • Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
  • Traditional Kikuyu Cooking Class In My Village: $100
  • Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $46
    Leiden $20
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:

  • 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha: $139
  • 1 Day Hiking Adventure At Mt Longonot From Nairobi(minimum 2 Pax): $225
  • 1 Day Pure Adrenaline Adventure with Kenyan BBQ Lunch Experience: $200
  • 2 Days 1 Night Amboseli National Park With Masai Village Tour: $280
  • 2 Days Tour :Mt.Longonot Hiking TOUR &Hells Gate Bicycle Riding: $200
  • 2-Hour Private Kibera Slum Guided Tour: $90
  • 3 Days 2 Nights Maasai Mara Group Tour with 4x4 Jeep: $210
  • 3 Days 2 Nights Masai Mara Safari Witness the Jungle Experience: $270
  • 3 Days 8th Wonder Of The World with Maasai Mara Great Tour: $242
  • 3 Days Maasai Mara Group Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $295
  • 3 Days Maasai Mara Small Group Safari in a 4 x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $220
  • 3 Days Masai Mara Budget Camping Safari on 4X4 Land Cruiser: $285

Tours and Activities in Leiden

For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 90 minutes Self-Guided Walking tour with puzzles in Leiden: $23
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
  • Cruise with Keukenhof Entrance Ticket in Amsterdam Lakes: $47
  • Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $32
  • Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $45
  • Escape Tour Leiden -selfguided citygame- find the secret exit!: $35
  • Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $289
  • Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $348
  • Leiden Private Canal Boat Tour with Drinks and Snacks: $159
  • Leiden Tour with Live guide and Visit to Rembrandt's First Studio: $99
  • Leiden's Shadows: A Dark History Walking Tour: $35
  • Cruise through the Historic City Center with Guide: $16

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $16
    Leiden $30

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Leiden, we can see that Leiden 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 Leiden is in Europe, 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 Leiden would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leiden 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 Leiden Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Leiden?

Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Leiden, 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.