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 $67Vancouver $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $161. 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 $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Vancouver $168
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$9.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 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 Shuttle Van Transfer: $100
- Nairobi Airports Private Transfers: $100
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Airport Transfer (one Way): $80
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Naivasha: $70
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi City: $70
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.18
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$20
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.48
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.36
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: $180
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $105
- 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
- North Shore Mountains Snowshoeing with Transfer: $106
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 $52
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
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- 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
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
- Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100
- Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers: $100
- Authentic home dinner with a local Family in Nairobi: $108
- Authentic Local Kenyan Food Tour: $108
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$8.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fun Pizza Making Class With a Local Chef in Vancouver: $85
- Dim Sum Cooking Class with Chef Renée in Vancouver: $94
- Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour: $98
- Vancouver Gastown's Elite Walking Food Tour Experience: $100
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $101
- 6 Tastings Food Tour of Gastown District: $102
- Vancouver Foodie Tour: Granville Island Market Food Tour: $106
- A Wok Around Granville Island Public Market Food Tour: $108
- Gastown Historical Walking Food Tour: $117
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $120
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $130
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $133
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 Purple Farm Tour from Nairobi Tea Tasting and Lunch: $295
- 1-Day Mount Longonot Hiking Adventure From Nairobi: $195
- 3 Day Maasai Mara Group Joining Safari With Guided Tour: $250
- 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 Shared Tour with Private Accommodation: $250
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Small Group Safari in a 4 x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $220
- 3 Days and 2 Night Maasai Mara Group Safari Tour: $295
- 3 Hour Nairobi National Museum and Snake Park Tour: $95
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- 2 Hours Private Tour of City of Vancouver: $143
- 3 Days of Adventure in Vancouver – Activities-Only Tour: $1,620
- 3 Hours Private Tour of City of Vancouver: $215
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $611
- 4-Hour Private Tour of Vancouver's Gardens: $291
- 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
- Ancient Trees of Vancouver Walking Tour: $54
- Ancient Trees of Vancouver Walking Tour: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Vancouver $15
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Amazing Bar Crawl in Vancouver BC: $15
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $21
- Guided BC Wine Tasting at Vancouver Park: $36
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Neighbourhood Walking Tour: $64
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $85
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $86
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $127
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $133
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour from Vancouver with a Light Lunch: $137
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $158
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting: $169
- Fraser Valley and White Rock Wine Tour: $171
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.