Which place is cheaper, Nairobi or Serengeti National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySerengeti National Park $116Nairobi $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Serengeti National Park is $116, while the average daily cost in Nairobi is $62. 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 $53Nairobi $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSerengeti National Park $106Nairobi $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 $20Nairobi $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$9.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi: $20
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
- Airport Transfers within Nairobi: $30
- Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels : $55
- Bush Safaris and Airport transfers: $85
- From 3-Day Saltlick Lodge Safari with Transfers: $1,000
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: Airport transfers: $50
- Kenya: Adventure, and Cultural Tours with Transfers: $33
- Masai Mara from Nairobi Transfer: $179
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- NBO:Jomo Kenyatta Airport Arrivals Private Transfer: $16
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 $36Nairobi $7.52
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$5.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Hour Gastronomic and Street Food tour of Nairobi: $31
- Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi: $40
- Cooking Class with Local Organic Market Visit: $40
- Cooking Class with Market Visit and Delicious food: $40
- Experience the Taste of Nairobi:A Hands-On Cooking Adventure: $44
- Traditional Cuisines Cooking Experience And Class.: $49
- Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $55
- Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
- Nairobi Cooking and Food Tasting Activity: $60
- Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $65
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Serengeti National Park $49Nairobi $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:
- Kibera Slum (The Chocolate city)Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Private Tour in Kibera the Largest Slum: $15
- Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
- Nairobi cultural shopping experience: $18
- Kibera Slum Tour with a Local: $20
- Nairobi City Walking and Historic Tours: $22
- Nairobi City;Culture and Historical guided tour: $23
- Nairobi;Downtown walking tour: $24
- Nairobi City Tour: $25
- Half-Day Tour Giraffe Center and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: $25
- Nairobi Downtown walks and Experiences: $25
- Elephant orphanage, Giraffe center, kobe beads tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySerengeti National Park $14Nairobi $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Nairobi Ultimate Bar Crawl: $60
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.