Which place is cheaper, Nairobi or Serengeti National Park?
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 Serengeti National Park or Nairobi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Serengeti National Park or Nairobi, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Serengeti National Park or Nairobi?
Serengeti National Park
Sprawling across 5,700 square miles of northern Tanzania in East Africa, Serengeti National Park makes up one of the oldest ecosystems in the world-one whose climate, vegetation, and fauna has barely changed over the past million years. Today the park is a major wildlife destination, especially during the Great Migration when over a million hoofed animals are on the move.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Kenya, and The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya.
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Serengeti National Park Prices
Tanzania PricesNairobi Prices
Kenya Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySerengeti National Park $157Nairobi $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Serengeti National Park is $157, while the average daily cost in Nairobi is $67. 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 Serengeti National Park and Nairobi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSerengeti National Park $58Nairobi $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSerengeti National Park $116Nairobi $24
Compare Hotels in Serengeti National Park and Nairobi
Looking for a hotel in Serengeti National Park or Nairobi? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Serengeti National Park $22Nairobi $11
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$9.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers: $40
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
- Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels : $55
- Airport/hotel/transfers In Van/bus/sedan Car Within Nairobi: $80
- From JKIA Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax max): $35
- From Wilson Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax): $30
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- Nairobi - Maasai Mara Shuttle Transfers. : $61
- Nairobi Airport Transfer, Hotel Pick up and Drop Off: $20
- Nairobi Airport Transfers to Wilson Airport or City Hotels: $28
- Nairobi National Park Game Drive and Transfer: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Serengeti National Park or Nairobi?
Prices for flights to both Nairobi and Serengeti National Park 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 daySerengeti National Park $69Nairobi $13
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$5.00
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
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class and Dining Experience: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
- Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers : $100
- Authentic Local Kenyan Food Tour: $108
- Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $125
- Nairobi Carnivore Restaurant Lunch / Dinner Experience: $125
- Barbecue Dinner & Entertainment in Nairobi : $135
- Safari Park Hotel Cat Dance and Dinner Experience: $135
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Serengeti National Park $54Nairobi $46
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:
- Nairobi Historic Downtown City WalkingTour: $20
- Nairobi Walking City Culture Tour: $20
- Nairobi City Walk Tour : $23
- Nairobi City Tour: $25
- Mathare Community Slum Tour: $26
- Carnivore Restaurant Nairobi Dinning experience-transport: $30
- Nairobi Historical Walking Half Day Tour : $35
- Kibera Slum Tour with Lucas : $35
- Nairobi national park Elephant orphanage and giraffe center tour.: $38
- Nairobi National Park Half Day Game Drive Tour With FREE Pick up: $39
- Walking tour in Nairobi town: $40
- Half Day Excursion Tour in Nairobi : $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySerengeti National Park $16Nairobi $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Serengeti National Park and Nairobi, we can see that Serengeti National Park is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Serengeti National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Serengeti National Park 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 Serengeti National Park Expensive? and Is Nairobi 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.