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

Should you visit Arusha or Oslo?

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 Oslo 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 Oslo?

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.

Oslo

Oslo is not only the largest city in Norway, and also its capital. It also holds the title as the most expensive city in the world. Oslo is a unique capital city in that its boundaries include much forest and wildlife. The city itself is nestled in an amphitheater type setting. The city's core is in the bottom by the fjord, and the residential areas stretch uphill away from the downtown area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.


Which place is cheaper, Oslo 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 Oslo is $150. 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 Oslo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $134
    Oslo $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $268
    Oslo $148
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Oslo

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Oslo? 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 Oslo


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 Oslo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $14
    Oslo $21

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Oslo

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Oslo are as follows:


  • Tram Ticket
    $7.24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oslo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oslo:

  • Trondheim Private Transfer from Trondheim (TRD) Airport to City centre: $194
  • Round-Trip Private Transfer Oslo Airport OSL to Oslo City by Business Car: $250
  • Private Transfer from Sandefjord (TRF) Airport to Sandefjord City: $144
  • Private Transfer from Oslo Cruise Port to Oslo Airport (OSL): $138
  • Private Transfer from Oslo City Centre to Oslo Airport: $156
  • Private Transfer from Oslo Airport (OSL) to Oslo Cruise Port : $138
  • Private Transfer from Olso Airport to Olso Hotels: $144
  • Private Transfer Oslo Airport OSL to Oslo City Centre: $129
  • Private Transfer From Oslo To Drammen With a 2 Hour Stop: $156
  • Private Direct Transfer From Oslo to Drammen: $91
  • Airport or Hotel Private Transfer: $142
  • Oslo Private Transfer from Oslo (OSL) Airport to City centre: $159

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Oslo?

Prices for flights to both Oslo 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
    Oslo $52
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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oslo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oslo.

  • Oslofjord Fjord-Style Dinner Cruise: $69
  • City Tour with Traditional Norwegian Lunch or Dinner: $114
  • 3-course Dinner Cruise in the Oslofjord: $151
  • Oslo Fjord 3 Course Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $154
  • Norwegian Food Tour & Hidden Gems City Walk: $162
  • Norwegian Food Tour & Hidden Gems City Walk: $165
  • Oslo Tour with a Michelin-Starred Chef & Lunch/Dinner: $177

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $47
    Oslo $15

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 Oslo

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Oslo are as follows:

  • Family-friendly Fun Oslo Private Guided Tour with Kids: $299
  • 2-Hour Oslo Fjord Sightseeing Cruise by Sailing Ship: $51
  • 3 Hours Walking Tour for Great Food in Oslo: $158
  • 4 Hours Island Hopping Tour in Oslo: $60
  • A Self-Guided Tour of Oslo's Waterfront: $8.99
  • Akerselva River Kayak/Packraft Tour: Urban Adventure in Oslo: $103
  • Akerselva River Meander: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Akerselva River: Urban Paddling Adventure Kayak Tour: $101
  • BIKING OSLO PRIVATE EXPERIENCE Upto 8 Participants Max: $289
  • Best of Walking Tour with a local guide: $394
  • Central Oslo Guided Walking Tour: $11
  • City Sightseeing Oslo Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $47

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Oslo $9.13

Sample the Local Flavors in Oslo

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Oslo:

  • The Original Oslo Pub Crawl: $34
  • The Original Oslo Pub Crawl: $35


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Oslo, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Oslo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Oslo 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 Oslo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Oslo 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 Oslo.

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


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Oslo?

Oslo has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Oslo, 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.