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

Should you visit Nairobi or Rome?

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 Rome 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 Rome?

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.

Rome

Rome is the kind of city that refuses to stay in the past, even though history is everywhere you look. Ancient ruins rise beside buzzing cafes, scooters zip past Renaissance palaces, and quiet cobblestone lanes suddenly open onto grand piazzas filled with fountains, churches, and street performers. It is a city of layers: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, neighborhood trattorias, stylish boutiques, and late-night gelato walks all woven together into one unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the art, the food, the history, or the simple pleasure of wandering without a plan, Rome has a way of making every day feel like a discovery.

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


Which place is cheaper, Rome 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 Rome is $236. 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 Rome in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $12
    Rome $103
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $24
    Rome $206
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Rome

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Rome? 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 Rome


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 Rome Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $11
    Rome $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi

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


  • Taxi from Airport
    $9.24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi

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

  • Airport Transfer (one Way): $80
  • Airport Transfers: $40
  • Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $28
  • Airport transfer; NBO to nairobi hotels: $27
  • Airport transfers in Nairobi: $60
  • From JKIA Airport Nairobi Private Transfer in a Car 3 Pax Max: $35
  • Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
  • Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
  • Nairobi Airport Transfers: $69
  • Nairobi Airport Transfers: $50
  • Nairobi Airport Transfers to Wilson Airport and Hotels: $40
  • Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome

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


  • Metro Ride (for Two)
    $2.28
  • Train to the Airport
    $17
  • Taxi to Airport
    $51
  • Bicycle Rental (Full Day)
    $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:

  • VIP Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome or Vice Versa: $69
  • VIP Experience Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome: $109
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Rome APT-HTL (CIA): $138
  • Transfers from all Airports to ancient city of Rome: $69
  • Transfers from Fiumicino airport: $80
  • Transfers from Civitavecchia to Fiumicino/Rome: $281
  • Transfer to Fiumicino/Ciampino Airport from Rome city center: $54
  • Transfer services from airports to rome for up to 4 persons: $286
  • Transfer service from Fiumicino Airport to Rome 4 - 8 passengers: $149
  • Transfer from/to train stations in Rome 1 - 3 passengers: $80
  • Transfer from the Port of Civitavecchia to Rome: $167
  • Transfer from and to Airport - from and to Port - from and to hotel: $172

Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Rome?

Prices for flights to both Rome 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
    Rome $95
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
  • Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
  • Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
  • Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
  • Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
  • Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
  • Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience: $68
  • Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
  • Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
  • Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
  • Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
  • Traditional Kikuyu Cooking Class In My Village: $100

Typical Food Prices in Rome

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


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $16
  • 4 Ice Cream Sandwiches
    $3.40
  • Cafe e doce
    $4.55
  • Pizza (Fast Food)
    $3.02
  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    $36
  • Cheese and bread
    $11
  • Espresso
    $2.28
  • Dinner
    $66

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome

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

  • Rome Pasta & Tiramisu Making Class & Fine Wine by Cooking Italy: $40
  • Rome Pizza & Gelato Class with Wine by Cooking Italy: $40
  • Rome Food Tour for Breakfast Lovers: $40
  • Rome Early Morning Breakfast and Sightseeing Food Tour: $45
  • Rome Ultimate Food Tour Trastevere Tiber Island & Campo de' Fiori: $45
  • Rome in the Evening Bike / E-Bike Tour with optional Dinner: $45
  • Rome Pizza Making Class for Families in Trastevere: $45
  • Milan Street Food Tour and City Guided Sightseeing: $45
  • Authentic Gnocchi Cooking Class in Rome - Piazza Navona: $46
  • Fettuccine Pasta Cooking Class in Rome City Center: $46
  • Pesto and Pasta Cooking Class in Rome City Center: $48
  • Rome Street Food Tour: Eat Like a Local: $49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $46
    Rome $41
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:

  • Fashion African Fabric & Souvenir Market Tour: $12
  • Nairobi Matatu Culture Experience: $18
  • Nairobi City Tour +Pickup: $19
  • Nairobi Walking City Tour +pick-up: $20
  • Nairobi’s ultimate Walking City Tour with Hotel pickup: $20
  • Kibera Chocolate City Tour: $22
  • Nairobi City Walk Tour +pickup: $22
  • Nairobi Green Bus City Sightseeing Tour 4 Hours: $23
  • Nairobi City Tour: $25
  • Giraffe Center Karen Blixen and Kobe Beads Day Tour: $25
  • Discover Nairobi City with Student Led Walking Tour: $25
  • Mathare Community Slum Tour: $26

Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome

Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)
    $79
  • Coliseum Tickets (for Two)
    $38
  • Roma Pass
    $34
  • Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)
    $23
  • Segway Tour
    $85

Tours and Activities in Rome

Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • " Private pantheon tour: Explore Rome's Divine masterpiece": $102
  • "Rome of the Popes" E-bike Tour with Guide for Small Groups: $82
  • 1 Day Rome Tour from Civitavecchia for Cruise Passengers: $88
  • 1 Hour Pantheon Tour: A Time Travel Experience in Rome + Ebook: $109
  • 1.5 Hour Electric Golf Cart Rome highlights Tour: $28
  • 10 kilometer Running Experience in Rome: $80
  • 3 Hour Instagram Private Tour in Rome with Pickup: $172
  • 3 Hours Private Photographic and Historical Tour in Rome: $115
  • 3 Hours Rome Evening Walking Tour - Piazzas and Monuments: $40
  • 3 Hours Rome Tour by Golf Car: $109
  • 3 Museums in 1 Ticket of National Roman Museum Pass in Rome: $34
  • 3 hour Rome Highlights and Hidden Corners Walking Tour: $92

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $16
    Rome $21

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

Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $7.40
  • Pint of Beer
    $7.22
  • Beer
    $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Rome

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:

  • Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $22
  • Discover Frascati Wine Tasting with a Sommelier and Snacks: $27
  • Rome [4in1] Pasta Making_Tiramisù_Wine Tasting_Secret Cellar: $33
  • Cabaret and Burlesque Show at Rome: $34
  • Frascati Wine Tasting Experience with Food Pairing: $46
  • Wine Tasting in Trastevere with Food and Gelato: $48
  • Experience Rome Exclusive Wine Tasting in City Center: $55
  • Rome Wine Tasting in Monte dei Cocci | Authentic Lazio Wines: $56
  • Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $56
  • Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $63
  • Rome Nightlife Party Tour Monti Bar Crawl and Local Drinks: $65
  • Rome Night Tipsy Tour & Bar Crawl with Forbidden History: $68


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


Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Rome?

Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Rome, 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.