Which place is cheaper, Vancouver 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 Vancouver?
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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesVancouver Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $68Vancouver $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $68, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $162. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Vancouver $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Vancouver $170
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Vancouver $14
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$9.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Maasai Mara Reserve: $215
- Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
- Airport transfers: $180
- Private Transfer in Nairobi: $180
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or City to Mara by road: $160
- Private Road transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli: $150
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or city To Maasai Mara By Road: $135
- Private Departure Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Private Arrival Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Nairobi Airports Private Transfers: $100
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Private Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA Transfers to Nairobi Hotels: $95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.24
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.56
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- YVR Airport Transfer to Cruise Terminal and Hotels City Highlight: $182
- Whitewater Rafting from Vancouver with Lunch and Transfers: $291
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $106
- Whistler: YVR Airport Private Transfer to/from Whistler: $118
- YVR Airport Transfer to Squamish: $411
- YVR Airport Transfer to Fraser Valley: $618
- YVR Airport Private Transfer to/from Vancouver: $29
- Private Transfer to Whistler with Sightseeing: $669
- Private Transfer to Whistler: $454
- Private Airport Transfer to/from YVR Airport: $45
- Private Airport Transfer and City Tour: $281
- Post-Cruise Highlights Tour with Airport Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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 $13Vancouver $53
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:
- 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
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport: $97
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
- Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fun Sushi Making Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Vancouver: $62
- Vancouver Gastown's Elite Walking Food Tour Experience: $92
- Vancouver Chinatown Elite Food Tour Hidden Gems & Local Tastings: $98
- Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour: $98
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $101
- 6 Tastings Food Tour of Gastown District: $102
- A Wok Around Granville Island Public Market Food Tour: $109
- Gastown Historical Walking Food Tour: $117
- Vancouver Foodie Tour: Granville Island Market Food Tour: $120
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $121
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $130
- Private Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $134
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Vancouver $35
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:
- 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha: $139
- 1 Day Hell's Gate Bicycle Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $280
- 1 Day Hiking Adventure At Mt Longonot From Nairobi(minimum 2 Pax): $225
- 1 Day Tour to Amboseli Park And a Majestic Mt Kilimanjaro View: $90
- 1-Day Mount Longonot Hiking Adventure From Nairobi: $195
- 2 Days Amboseli Safari using a 4x4 Landcruiser jeep(with options): $105
- 2 Days Tour :Mt.Longonot Hiking TOUR &Hells Gate Bicycle Riding: $200
- 3 Day Maasai Mara Shared Safari In a Land Cruiser: $220
- 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 joining Safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser: $270
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Shared Tour with Private Accommodation: $250
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- 2 Hour Private City Tour - Vancouver: $259
- 3 Days of Adventure in Vancouver – Activities-Only Tour: $1,620
- 3 Star Boat at Nanaimo Area Fishing Ticket: $270
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $611
- 4-Hour Private Tour of Vancouver's Gardens: $291
- 4-Hour Vancouver City Highlights Private Tour: $215
- 5 Days of Adventure in Vancouver – Activities-Only Tour: $2,113
- 5hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $879
- 6 hour Private Tour of Vancouver & North Vancouver: $317
- 7hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $1,160
- All-Day Luggage Storage for 2 Bags at Vancouver Cruise Terminal: $12
- An Introduction to Vancouver by Private City Sightseeing Tour: $174
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Vancouver $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $21
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Neighbourhood Walking Tour: $68
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $85
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour Led by a Local: $106
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $127
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $131
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $133
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour from Vancouver with a Light Lunch: $139
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $158
- Fraser Valley and White Rock Wine Tour: $171
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $173
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Vancouver, we can see that Vancouver 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 Vancouver is in North 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 Vancouver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vancouver 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 Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Vancouver?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Vancouver. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Vancouver, 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.