Which place is cheaper, Sydney or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Nairobi or Sydney?
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 Sydney 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 Sydney?
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.
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $61Sydney $278
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $61, while the average daily cost in Sydney is $278. 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 Sydney in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $11Sydney $104
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $22Sydney $208
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Sydney
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Sydney? 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 Sydney Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $10Sydney $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
-
Taxi from Airport$9.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer from Nairobi to Naivasha: $70
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $20
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $47
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $35
- Airport Transfers within Nairobi: $30
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $40
- From 7-Day Kenya Safari Trip with Meals & Transfer: $1,800
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: Airport transfers: $50
- Kibera Slums Kenya Day Guided Tour With Transfer.: $40
- Mercedes Viano Private Transfer Luxury Comfort Nairobi : $250
- NAIROBI AIRPORT TRANSFER: $23
- Nairobi Airport One Way Private Transfer: $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
-
Taxi Ride$13
-
Taxi to Airport$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Try find your better than us!AirportTransfer inSydney APT-HTL SYD: $62
- Transfer Between Airport & Hotels or Cruise Terminal: $13
- Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $251
- Private Transfer with Meet and Greet: $79
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to and from CBD Hotels: $36
- Sydney's Best Chauffeured Airport Arrival Transfers: $84
- Sydney to Sydney Airport (SYD) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Sydney Port Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Cruise Port: $29
- Sydney International Airport to/from Sydney One Way Transfer: $47
- Sydney Airport to White Bay Port transfer: $27
- Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD Private Transfer: $119
- Sydney Airport Transfer to Sydney CBD: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Sydney?
Prices for flights to both Sydney 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 dayNairobi $7.35Sydney $45
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dinner for Two$4.92
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
- Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience.: $32
- Nairobi:Carnivore Restaurant Dinner and Pub Crawling.: $47
- Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $48
- Enjoy Traditional Kenyan Food Cooking Class With a Host.: $54
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
- Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $55
- Nairobi Cooking and Food Tasting Activity: $60
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience : $68
- Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience: $80
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
-
Tea$2.64
-
Lunch Special$9.91
-
Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.91
-
Meat Pies$3.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- VIVID Dinner Cruise with Complimentary Drink on Arrival: $36
- Vivid Sydney Harbor Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $46
- Christmas in July Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $57
- Twilight Dinner Cruise (1.5 hour): $59
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Vivid Dinner Cruise: $59
- Kids Cooking Classes: $64
- Small Group Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet at Bohemian Cafe: $64
- Sydney Harbour Sunset Premium Dinner Cruise 2 Hours: $66
- Sydney Harbour: Latin Fiesta Dinner Cruise: $69
- Latino Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $70
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $45Sydney $32
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:
- Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
- Nairobi cultural shopping experience: $18
- Nairobi City Walking and Historic Tours: $19
- Nairobi City;culture and historical guided tour: $19
- Nairobi;Downtown walking tour: $20
- vibrant kibera slum tour: $24
- Private Guided Nairobi City and Cultural Walking Tour: $25
- Kibera slums half day tour from nairobi: $25
- Memorable Daily KIBERA Slums/Toi Market Tour with Locals (2 hours): $25
- Elephant orphanage, Giraffe center, kobe beads tour: $25
- From Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center Tour: $25
- Half-Day Tour Giraffe Center and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Theatre Show$30
-
Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
-
Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$126
-
Powerhouse Museum$9.94
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small-Group Sydney's Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai National Park Bus Tour: $231
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Tour From Sydney: $100
- 1 Day/3 Day/7 Day Vintage Classic Car Driving Experience-Aus wide: $234
- 2 Hours Running Tour in Sydney: $99
- 2 Hours Sydney Harbour's True Crime Cruise Tour: $37
- 3 Hours Abba Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $66
- 3 Hr Whale Watching Discovery Cruise in Sydney: $73
- 3-Hour Private Bike Tour with a Local Sydney Guide: $228
- 3.5 Hours Explore Bondi Beach and Sydney Sightseeing Tour: $195
- 45-Minute Sydney Harbour Adventure Jet Boat Ride: $66
- Afternoon Discovery Cruise on Coral Trekker: $46
- Allianz Stadium Guided Walking Tour: $17
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $15Sydney $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
-
Wine$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Haunted Pub Tour with Local Guide: $21
- Sydney's Haunted Pub Tour with a Licensed Guide: $26
- Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $30
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl: $30
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting: $56
- Urban Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese Platter: $56
- Balmain Pub Walking Tour: $77
- Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $84
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $103
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting: $122
- Hunter Valley Wine Tasting + Lunch Guided Day Tour : $133
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Sydney, we can see that Sydney 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 Sydney is in Pacific, 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Sydney?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 60% larger than the population of Nairobi. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Sydney, 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.