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

Should you visit Arusha or Mexico City?

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 Mexico City 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 Mexico City?

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.

Mexico City

Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Mexico City 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 Mexico City is $212. 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 Mexico City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $134
    Mexico City $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $268
    Mexico City $76
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Mexico City

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Mexico City? 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 Mexico City


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 Mexico City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $14
    Mexico City $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mexico City

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:


  • Metro
    $1.09
  • Uber Ride
    $3.80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City

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

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Mexico APT-HTL (MEX) : $36
  • Transfer from Mexico City Airport to Puebla: $245
  • Transfer Mexico city Airport - Mexico city Downtown hotels: $16
  • Transfer Mexico City Airport to Downtown and Zona Rosa Hotels: $80
  • Transfer & assistance one-way from/to Mexico City Airport/hotel : $34
  • Toluca to Toluca Int Airport (TLC) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
  • Toluca Int Airport(TLC) to Toluca - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $98
  • Teotihuacan: Private Balloon Flight with optional Transfer: $293
  • Six Flags Ticket + Hassle-Free Transfers: $116
  • Shared Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan with transfer: $274
  • San Miguel De Allende City Tour with Transfer from Mexico City: $156
  • Roundtrip Private Transfer from Mexico City Airport (MEX): $32

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Mexico City?

Prices for flights to both Mexico City 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
    Mexico City $43
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 Mexico City

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $12
  • Coffee and Snacks
    $4.24
  • Dinner for 2
    $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City

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

  • Private Street Food Tour Mexico City - Best rated : $35
  • Coyoacán Market Food Tour Urban Eats & Local Legends: $52
  • San Juan Market Food Tour Exotic Bites & Flavors: $52
  • Art and Food Tour with Lunch: $54
  • Tortilla Crawl: Food Tour in Mexico City: $55
  • Mexico City Vegan & Veggie Market Explorer plus Cooking Lesson: $55
  • Private Half-Day Traditional Markets Street Food Tour in Mexico City: $57
  • 3 Hours Food Tour Best Vegan Tacos in Mexico City: $61
  • Lunch Food Tour: Taste Mexico like a local: $62
  • Old Town Food Tour of 7 Tastings & Secret Dish: $66
  • Breakfast Food Tour: Taste Mexico like a local: $68
  • Frida Kahlo Museum & Coyoacan Tacos & Food Tour: $69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $47
    Mexico City $14

Tours and Activities in Arusha

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

  • Arusha National Park Guided Day Tour From Arusha: $290
  • Marangu waterfall & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD : $150
  • Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD : $167
  • Materuni Waterfalls, Visiting Chagga Village, CoffeeTour Kikuletwa Hotsprings: $100
  • 1 Day Tour Hot Spring (Majimoto): $80
  • 2 Day Mount Meru Private Camping Tour from Arusha: $200
  • A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro : $160
  • Amazing Lake Duluti Day Trip Experience: $70
  • Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
  • Arusha City town tour: $101
  • Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140
  • Arusha Guided Walking City Tour: Culture, History & Local Markets: $20

Tours and Activities in Mexico City

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

  • Frida Kahlo Tour with Admission Tickets: $76
  • Hiking Tour on the Iztaccíhuatl Volcano from Puebla (private): $176
  • Mexico City Tour and Visit Chapultepec Castle. Private service: $180
  • Private Tour Teotihuacan Essentials: $140
  • Private Tour from your Hotel to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan: $168
  • San Andres Mixquic Car Tour Experience: $145
  • Sunrise HotAir Balloon Adventure Over Teotihuacan's Pyramids: $160
  • "Guided Tour Plus" EN Ruins "TEMPLE MAJOR" with OFFICIAL GUIDES: $33
  • 1 Day Hot Air Balloon Tour to the Pyramids in Teotihuacan: $280
  • 100% Private Tour in Teotihuacán Pyramids from Mexico City: $95
  • 100% private tour in Chapultepec Castle & around (with transport): $72
  • 100% private tour in Guadalupe's Basilica with transport: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Mexico City $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:

  • Guided Pub Crawl with Party Games: $23
  • Zona Rosa Pub Crawl Experience: $94
  • Cavas Freixenet Wine Tour from Mexico City: $222
  • Private Cheese and Wine Tour to Queretaro: $479


When comparing the travel costs between Arusha and Mexico City, we can see that Mexico City 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. Even though Arusha is in Africa and Mexico City is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Mexico City?

Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Mexico City, 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.