A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arusha vs. Cesis for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arusha or Cesis?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Cesis can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Arusha or Cesis?

Arusha

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.

Cesis

Cesis is the quintessential old world town in Latvia. It is nestled among rolling hills, giving it a beautiful, fantasy world like setting. The small town is sprinkled with old castles, fortresses, and parks that you can leisurely wander through to pass the time. There's a lovely town square that is the perfect place to grab a seat on a bench and people watch. Because of the square's central location, many residents pass through it on their way to and from the market. The town is intertwined with lovely cobblestone streets that are lined with old homes, in various stages of disrepair. Cesis manages to perfectly balance a level of authentic wear and tear with a fairytale ambiance. Outside of town you'll find great hiking trails that you can use to explore the rolling hills and picturesque countryside. The small town is also conveniently located less than 100 kilometers from Riga, making it an easy trip on a bus.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania.


Which place is cheaper, Cesis or Arusha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $201, while the average daily cost in Cesis is $162. 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 Arusha and Cesis in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $134
    Cesis $56
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $268
    Cesis $112
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Cesis

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Cesis? 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.

Hotels in Arusha


Hotels in Cesis


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: Arusha Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $14
    Cesis $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Pick Up & Drop Off | Private Transfer Service: $77
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
  • Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
  • Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $161

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Cesis?

Prices for flights to both Cesis and Arusha 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Arusha $43
    Cesis $84
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $43
  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50

Typical Food Prices in Cesis

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cesis:


  • Lunch in town for two
    $7.83

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $47
    Cesis $19

Tours and Activities in Arusha

For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Arusha Guided Walking City Tour: Culture, History & Local Markets: $20
  • Discover Arusha's Soul: A Guided Walking City Tour. Learn & Live.: $25
  • Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $30
  • Arusha Waterfalls,Coffee farm Tour & Swing(all inclusive): $30
  • Microfinance family farm tour - all proceeds to charity: $35
  • Hidden Arusha Village, Waterfall & Coffee Tour (All-Inclusive): $40
  • Mountain Bike Tour of the Foothills of Mount Meru: $40
  • Lake Duluti Luxury Canoe Tour: $50
  • Private Walking Tour with Giraffes: $55
  • Arusha city tour and Pickup: $55
  • Coffee tour and Buffet Lunch with Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
  • Materuni Waterfall, Chemka Hot Spring and Traditional Coffee Tour: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Cesis $20


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Cesis, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Cesis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Cesis is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cesis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cesis 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 Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha than you might in Cesis.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Cesis Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Cesis?

Arusha has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cesis. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Cesis, 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.