Which place is cheaper, Dakar or Soweto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Soweto or Dakar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Soweto and Dakar. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Soweto or Dakar?
Soweto
The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, first used in 1963 to describe the groups of townships to the south west of Johannesburg. It is a city of contrasts, featuring anything from tin shanties to luxurious mansions, and is probably best known for being the home of two Nobel Prize winners.
Dakar
Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town, The Best Adventure Tours to Senegal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Senegal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySoweto $61Dakar $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Soweto is $61, while the average daily cost in Dakar is $61. 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 Soweto and Dakar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSoweto $31Dakar $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSoweto $62Dakar $64
Compare Hotels in Soweto and Dakar
Looking for a hotel in Soweto or Dakar? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Soweto $12Dakar $5.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:
- Transfer - DSS Airport <-> Dakar (One way): $66
- Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Dakar (two directions): $82
- DSS Airport Transfer <-> Dakar (Return): $120
- Blaise Diagne Int Airport (DSS): Transfer to Dakar hotels: $209
- AIBD-DAKAR transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Soweto or Dakar?
Prices for flights to both Dakar and Soweto 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 daySoweto $20Dakar $19
Typical Food Prices in Dakar
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:
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Breakfast$4.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dakar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dakar.
- Senegalese Street Food Tour in Dakar: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Soweto $16Dakar $13
Tours and Activities in Soweto
For Soweto, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Visit Gospel service with additional Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $44
- Johannesburg: Soweto Half-Day Tour: $57
- Johannesburg: Soweto Tour with Lunch: $67
- Johannesburg: Soweto Night Tour: $92
Tours and Activities in Dakar
Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mamelles Lighthouse and Ngor Island (Walking Tour): $130
- 2-day tour Lac rose- desert of Lompoul: $290
- Accro Baobab Adventure Ticket Entry: $38
- Dakar City Tour and Goree Island: $162
- Pink Lake and Turtle Village Half-Day Tour: $200
- Private City Tour: $108
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $30
- Day trip Goree island and Dakar city tour : $159
- From Dakar or Saly: Half-Day Tour to Pink Lake: $136
- From Dakar/Saly: Half-Day Bandia Wildlife Reserve Tour: $244
- Full Day Goree Island And Dakar City Tour(Minimum 2 Participants): $142
- Full Day Private Tour in move, eat, act like a local: $109
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySoweto $8.10Dakar $8.92
When comparing the travel costs between Soweto and Dakar, we can see that Soweto 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 Soweto Expensive? and Is Dakar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Soweto or Dakar?
Dakar has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Soweto. When comparing the sizes of Soweto and Dakar, 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.