Travel Budget for Arusha Visit Arusha on a Budget or Travel in Style

Arusha, Arusha Region, Tanzania

How much does it cost to travel to Arusha?

You should plan to spend around $178 (TZS451,518) per day on your vacation in Arusha. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $24 (TZS61,286) on meals
  • $13 (TZS33,679) on local transportation
  • $261 (TZS661,385) on hotels

A one week trip to Arusha for two people costs, on average, $2,491 (TZS6,321,253). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $178
    TZS451,518
  • One Week Per person
    $1,245
    TZS3,160,626
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $2,491
    TZS6,321,253
  • One Month Per person
    $5,337
    TZS13,545,542
  • One Week For a couple
    $2,491
    TZS6,321,253
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $4,981
    TZS12,642,506
  • One Month For a couple
    $10,674
    TZS27,091,083
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Arusha cost?

A one week trip to Arusha usually costs around $1,245 (TZS3,160,626) for one person and $2,491 (TZS6,321,253) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Arusha on average costs around $2,491 (TZS6,321,253) for one person and $4,981 (TZS12,642,506) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Arusha will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Arusha on average costs around $5,337 (TZS13,545,542) for one person and $10,674 (TZS27,091,083) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Arusha has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Arusha expensive to visit?

Prices in Arusha are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within Africa, Arusha is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Serengeti National Park or Dar es Salaam.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Arusha Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Arusha?

The average Arusha trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Arusha travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) TZS661,385 ($261)
Local Transportation 1 TZS33,679 ($13)
Food 2 TZS61,286 ($24)
Entertainment 1 TZS115,099 ($45)
Tips and Handouts 1 TZS36,733 - 110,200 ($14 - 43)
Alcohol 2 TZS13,813 - 41,440 ($5 - 16)
Accommodation Budget in Arusha
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Arusha is $130 (TZS330,693). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Arusha is $261 (TZS661,385). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $130
    TZS330,693
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $261
    TZS661,385

Hotel Prices in Arusha

Looking for a hotel in Arusha? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Arusha based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $74. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Arusha
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Arusha is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $13 (TZS33,679) per person, per day, on local transportation in Arusha.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $13
    TZS33,679

Recommended Services


Flights to Arusha
How much does it cost to go to Arusha? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Arusha
The price of renting a car in Arusha will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Arusha
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Arusha can vary, the average cost of food in Arusha is $24 (TZS61,286) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Arusha should cost around $9.66 (TZS24,514) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Arusha is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $24
    TZS61,286

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Arusha?

Typical prices for Food in Arusha are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Arusha, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    TZS5,500


Entertainment Budget in Arusha
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Arusha typically cost an average of $45 (TZS115,099) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $45
    TZS115,099

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Arusha
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Arusha is $29 (TZS73,467) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Arusha is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $29
    TZS73,467



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Alcohol Budget in Arusha
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $11 (TZS27,627) on alcoholic beverages in Arusha per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $11
    TZS27,627


Water Budget in Arusha
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $2.57 (TZS6,518) on bottled water in Arusha per day. The public water in Arusha is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $2.57
    TZS6,518


Arusha On a Budget
Arusha Camping on Kilimanjaro
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
Sights
The city hosts the National Natural History Museum, which contains three exhibits on early man, plants, and animals of the region, and the history of the city. The museum used to be an administration outpost for the Germans in the 1900s. It was opened in 1987 as a public museum and displays important assets to the scientific community such as models of Australopithecus people, human ancestors that lived over 2 million years ago.

A small museum adjacent to the Uhuru monument displays information about the proceedings of the Arusha Declaration in 1967.

Masai Market is the local handicrafts and curios market. The Cultural Heritage Center has a large handicrafts store, Tanzanite, and art gallery.

The Cultural Arts Centre offers workshops in traditional Tanzanian dancing and drumming as well as high energy music/dance performances from a professional dance troupe. You can also learn to cook a traditional Tanzanian meal, or make a coastal drum, which you can take away with you.
Neighborhoods
Downtown
There's plenty available to keep you busy in the downtown area, from restaurants to cultural experiences. The city’s downtown area and the main road towards Dodoma are noisy and packed with people and traffic. This is also where you’re most likely to encounter touts offering safaris, souvenirs and all manner of deals, some genuine, many of them not.

Kijenge
Kijenge is three miles away from Arusha and features a variety of attractions such as the crater lake, Lake Duluti.

Sakina
A newly built area on the slopes of Mount Meru, Sakina is strategically located on the northern side of Arusha. It provides a quick getaway to the nearby Kilimanjaro and Arusha national parks, the Ngorongoro conservation area, Lake Manyara and the Serengeti game reserve. There is a good supermarket, a couple of mid-range hotels, a few guesthouses and a number of places serving the traditional "nyama choma" (roasted meat) including "Trooper", the local favorite.

Tengeru
Tengeru is easily accessible by bus. Here you can try grinding your own coffee or just wander the streets and marvel at the beautiful village.

Activities
Climb Mount Meru. It can be done in 2-4 days, depending on your physical condition. You are not required to take guides and porters up Mount Meru, but you must be escorted by armed rangers. Temperatures can be freezing, so prepare warm clothing and sleeping bags. Comfortable and enjoyable climbing of Mount Meru would need a professional mountain guide in addition to armed rangers. Most mountain guides and porters are employed by local tour operators, so your best bet is to search out a reputable tour operator.

Go on a Safari! There are many types of safari trips in Tanzania for many budgets; usually the pricier ones get you out farther into the Serengeti and the Ngorogongoro Crater, to places that are a little less touched by man. The less expensive excursions to reserves and parks are specialized, of a shorter duration, and worthwhile. If there’s one trip that will change your perspective on life, it’s an African safari. You can even try a safari by camel. Camel safaris are done at slopes of Mt. Meru at Maasai village. Camel safaris offer great opportunity for wildlife safaris, Masai culture tour and adventures.

Experience the local wildlife at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to the volcanic Ngorongoro Crater and boasting a wealth of majestic animals such as elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos, as well as herds of wildebeests and zebras, which migrate annually through the plains. If you're looking for a fantastic area to visit, taking a safari to Ngorongoro Crater is highly recommended. Other highlights of the area include the hominid fossils in the Olduvai Gorge, which date back millions of years. The area is part of the Serengeti and borders the southern plains.

Explore the Wetlands. The sixth largest park in Tanzania, Tarangire National Park, located in the Manyara Region, is divided by the Tarangire River. Known for its large populations of elephants, zebras, wildebeests and cape buffaloes, which are attracted to its fresh water reserves, the landscape also features Acacia and Commiphora-Combretum woodlands and Baobab trees. Stretching over 1,100 square miles, the area also features waterbucks, giraffes, impalas, and vervet monkeys, as well as predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs.
Food and Dining
The city’s cuisine is a blend of dishes from various parts of Tanzania as well as global culinary traditions. Ugali (stiff maize meal polenta) with meat sauce, beans, and greens is a staple dish. Nyama ndizi (a soup of meat and starchy cooking bananas) is also popular. Nyama choma, which translates from Kiswahili to English as ‘roast meat’ from either Cows, Lamb, Goat, and kuku choma are popular barbecue dishes usually served a side of french fries with local cold beer and pili pili. Chips mayai or zege is another popular local dish of chips (fried potatoes) and egg. Indian and Chinese cuisines are also widely available. Look for delicious roadside snacks on the streets of Arusha or visit the Arusha Farmers Market for a wide selection of Tanzanian delicacies.

Transportation
Arusha is served by two airports. Kilimanjaro International Airport has regular flights to Amsterdam with KLM, and to Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Nairobi. Kilimanjaro Airport is approximately 60km (45min) from the city center. Taxis are available to get to the city from the airport, but many airlines run shittles for much cheaper. Arusha Municipal Airport is on the outskirts of the city but only runs domestic flights, mostly to Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, and charters. Visas-on-arrival are available at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Arusha can be reached by express coach from Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala with direct services also available from Mwanza, Tanga, and Lushoto. The main mode of public transport is daladala, the ubiquitous minibuses which ply their trade on all the main routes in town. Daladala is very cramped and safety is something to consider. Taxis are plentiful and cheap; make sure to agree on a price before leaving for your destination. Car hire is possible, but most companies prefer to provide their own drivers.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.