Which place is cheaper, Diani or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pretoria or Diani?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Diani? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Pretoria or Diani?
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
Diani
Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, and The Best Budget Tours to Kenya.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $54Diani $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $54, while the average daily cost in Diani is $55. 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 Pretoria and Diani in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $27Diani $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $54Diani $46
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Diani
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Diani? 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: Diani Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $13Diani $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City & Pilanesberg Transfers: $250
- Shuttle and Transfers to Johannesburg and Pretoria: $47
- Private Oneway Transfer from Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport: $33
- Pretoria to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) - Departure Private Transfer: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Diani
Also for Diani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- airport hotel transfer: $36
- Private transfer to Diani Beach from Mombasa: $65
- Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Diani Hotels: $72
- From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Diani?
Prices for flights to both Diani and Pretoria 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 dayPretoria $16Diani $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $112
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Diani
For Diani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Diani Beach: Special Dinner with a Local: $50
- A ROMANTIC BEACH BONFIRE DINNER SET UP: $58
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $16Diani $15
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cullinan diamond Mine Day Tour (surface tour): $91
- Horse Riding and Quad Biking Experience: $170
- Pretoria City Tour and Cullinan Mine Tour from Johannesburg : $200
- Pretoria Tour - Voortrekker Monument, Union Buildings, Pretoria : $76
- Soweto and Apartheid Museum Day Tour private from Johannesburg Private: $100
- 2 Days Historical Cultural and Sightseeing Tour in Johannesburg : $258
- 5 Hour Lesedi Cultural Village Tour: $110
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg from Pretoria, every FRIDAY afternoon: $54
- Bicycle or Tuk Tuk Soweto Guided Experience : $99
- Canopy Zip lining Tour Private : $106
- Constitutional Hill Highlight Tour: $100
- Constitutional Hill and Apartheid Museum Half-Day Tour from ZAR R1 100 Private : $70
Tours and Activities in Diani
For Diani, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 day Shimba Hills Tour: $185
- 3 nights Vipingo Golf Safari & Flight Tour: $1,575
- Chale Island: Dolphin Sighting Adventure: $399
- DAY TOUR TO KISITE NATIONAL PARK & WASINI ISLAND FROM DIANI: $173
- DAY TOUR TO TSAVO EAST FROM MOMBASA/DIANI: $277
- Day & Night Life Tour At Diani: $40
- Diani Beach: 2-Hour Glass Bottom-Boat Cruise: $28
- Diani Beach: Children's Homes Visit And Donation Tour.: $42
- Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo cultural and nature experience: $30
- Diani Beach: Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe: $32
- Diani Beach: Private Boat Cruise Charter: $200
- Diani Beach: Village tour on a bike with hotel pick-up: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $34Diani $8.91
Sample the Local Flavors in Diani
Also in Diani, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Diani,Mombasa Nightlife And Pub Crawling Guided Tour.: $44
When comparing the travel costs between Pretoria and Diani, we can see that Diani is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pretoria Expensive? and Is Diani Expensive?.
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.