Which place is cheaper, Geneva or Arusha?
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 Arusha or Geneva?
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 Geneva 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 Geneva?
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.
Geneva
Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, and The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesGeneva Prices
Switzerland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $201Geneva $288
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $201, while the average daily cost in Geneva is $288. 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 Geneva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $134Geneva $168
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $268Geneva $336
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Geneva
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Geneva? 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: Arusha Hotel Prices and Geneva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $14Geneva $11
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:
- VIP Transfer: $82
- Transfer from Geneva airport to hotel or home: $50
- Transfer Annecy Airports to Lyon and Geneva: $167
- Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Montreux.: $458
- Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Lausanne.: $317
- Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Interlaken.: $881
- Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Geneva.: $170
- Private Transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Zermatt.: $881
- Private Transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Verbier.: $764
- Private Transfer from Geneva Hotels to Geneva Airport: $102
- Private Transfer from Geneva Cornavin station CFF to Hotels: $106
- Private Transfer from Geneva Airpot to Geneva City: $141
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Geneva?
Prices for flights to both Geneva 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
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Food Meals for one dayArusha $43Geneva $105
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Geneva
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Geneva.
- City Tour and Fondue Cooking Class, Swiss Folklore: $223
- Taste Geneva – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $226
- Geneva City Tour with Cooking Class: $227
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $47Geneva $35
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
Tours and Activities in Geneva
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- (KTG210) - Geneva City Tour and Yvoire: $201
- (KTG353) - Winter Tour: Gruyeres, chocolate tour from Geneva: $199
- (STTG04) - Sightseeing Cruise at Geneva with Wine and Aperitif: $37
- Annecy - Venice of the Alps - Tour from Geneva: $96
- Annecy Private Guided Tour from Geneva: $477
- Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva: $24
- Best Intro Tour of Geneva with a Local: $178
- Best of Geneva City Tour with optional boat cruise: $74
- Best of Geneva City Tour: International Area and Old Town: $73
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $108
- Chamonix Mont-Blanc & E-bike Tour: $258
- Chamonix Mont-Blanc Full Day Guided Tour : $127
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $11Geneva $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:
- Geneva Countryside Wine tasting, Aperitif, Castle By E-bike: $175
- Swiss Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour in Vaud: $263
- Lavaux, Chexbres, and Valais Wine Tasting Tour: $450
- Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting by TukTuk: $541
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Geneva, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Arusha much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Geneva 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 Arusha would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arusha 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva than you might in Arusha.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Geneva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Geneva?
Arusha has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Geneva, 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.