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

Should you visit Nairobi or Recife?

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 Recife 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 Recife?

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.

Recife

One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, and The Best Budget Tours to Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Recife 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 $67, while the average daily cost in Recife is $209. 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 Recife in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $12
    Recife $84
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $24
    Recife $168
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Recife

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Recife? 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 Recife


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 Recife Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $11
    Recife $8.13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi

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


  • Taxi from Airport
    $9.23

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
  • Private Airport Transfer and Service in Nairobi: $20
  • Nairobi Airport Transfer, Hotel Pick up and Drop Off: $20
  • Private Airport Transfers To or From Nairobi Airports.: $25
  • Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
  • Private One-Way Transfer from Nairobi: $27
  • Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
  • Nairobi Airport Transfers to Wilson Airport or City Hotels: $28
  • From Wilson Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax): $30
  • From JKIA Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax max): $35
  • Nairobi airport transfer: $35
  • Airport Transfers: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:

  • Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $50
  • Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $111
  • Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100

Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Recife?

Prices for flights to both Recife 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
    Recife $117
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi

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


  • Dinner for Two
    $5.00

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 and Dining Experience: $40
  • Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
  • Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
  • Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
  • Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
  • Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
  • Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers : $100
  • Authentic Local Kenyan Food Tour: $108
  • Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $125
  • Nairobi Carnivore Restaurant Lunch / Dinner Experience: $125
  • Barbecue Dinner & Entertainment in Nairobi : $135

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $46
    Recife $11
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:

  • Nairobi Walking City Culture Tour: $20
  • Nairobi Historic Downtown City WalkingTour: $20
  • Nairobi City Walk Tour : $23
  • Nairobi City Tour: $25
  • Mathare Community Slum Tour: $26
  • Carnivore Restaurant Nairobi Dinning experience-transport: $30
  • Nairobi Historical Walking Half Day Tour : $35
  • Kibera Slum Tour with Lucas : $35
  • Nairobi national park Elephant orphanage and giraffe center tour.: $38
  • Nairobi National Park Half Day Game Drive Tour With FREE Pick up: $39
  • Walking tour in Nairobi town: $40
  • Nairobi National Park Half-Day Game Drive Guided Tour: $40

Tours and Activities in Recife

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:

  • Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.48

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $16
    Recife -


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


Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Recife?

Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 86% larger than the population of Recife. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Recife, 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.