A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dar es Salaam vs. Flores for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Flores?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dar es Salaam and Flores can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Flores?

Dar es Salaam

Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.

Flores

The town of Flores is located in Peten, Guatemala. The main hub is located on an island on Lago Peten Itza, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. On the other side of the causeway are the towns of Santa Elena and San Benito, however, all three are often referred to as Flores. Most people visit the area for its proximity to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, though the town itself is also charming with colonial buildings and historic churches lining the cobbled streets.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Guatemala, and The Best 3-Day Tours in Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Flores or Dar es Salaam?

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 Dar es Salaam is $493, while the average daily cost in Flores is $43. 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 Dar es Salaam and Flores in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dar es Salaam $452
    Flores $8.73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dar es Salaam $904
    Flores $17
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Flores

Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Flores? 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 Dar es Salaam


Hotels in Flores


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: Dar es Salaam Hotel Prices and Flores Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dar es Salaam $14
    Flores $7.97

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam

Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
  • Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $106
  • Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
  • Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores

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

  • Same day Round-Trip VIP Exclusive Transfer to Tikal from Flores : $133
  • Tikal Transfer and Tour Guide From Flores: $90
  • Bus transfer from Flores, Guatemala to Belize City: $20
  • Private transfer Mundo Maya Airport to Flores Island Hotels: $10

Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Flores?

Prices for flights to both Flores and Dar es Salaam 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
    Dar es Salaam $33
    Flores $23

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dar es Salaam -
    Flores $20

Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.

  • Bagamoyo Full-Day Tour: Historic Slave Trade Route & Kaole Ruins: $255
  • Dar Es Salaam City Tour (Full Day With Private Guide And Car): $140
  • 2 Days 1 Night Bagamoyo Historical Tour : $300
  • Ancient Bagamoyo City Day Tour: $249
  • Bagamoyo Adventure, Historical Tour: $238
  • Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
  • Bagamoyo Tour: $120
  • Bird Watching Tour to Tegetero Forest 2days 1 night: $205
  • Dar Es Salaam City Tour: $150
  • Dar Es Salaam City tour: $164
  • Dar Es Salaam Local Markets and Village-National Museum Day tour: $150
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97

Typical Entertainment Prices in Flores

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Flores's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Tikal Entrance (for 2)
    $39
  • Map of Tikal
    $3.26

Tours and Activities in Flores

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

  • Shared Guided Sunset Tour in Yaxhá from Flores: $25
  • 2-Day Tour to Tikal and Yaxhá from Flores Island: $220
  • All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores and Airport: $105
  • All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores or Mayan World Airport: $78
  • Awaken to Tikals' Sunrise Exclusive Tour: $199
  • Basic Tour to Tikal Includes Transportation and Guide Service: $25
  • Discover "Crater Azul" & Its Crystal-Clear Waters On A Full-Day Tour From Flores: $280
  • From Flowers Eco Tour to Blue Crater All Inclusive: $70
  • From Flowers Sunset Tour in Tikal: $25
  • Full Day Tikal Sunrise Tour from Flores and Archaeological Tour: $48
  • Full-Day Shared Tour to Tikal from Flores Peten with Lunch: $110
  • Guided Tour of Tikal from Flores or Airport Private Service : $140

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dar es Salaam $7.97
    Flores $21

Typical Alcohol Prices in Flores

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:


  • Two Margaritas
    $2.61


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Flores, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Flores much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dar es Salaam is in Africa and Flores is in Central America, 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 Flores would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Flores 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 Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam than you might in Flores.

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


Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Flores?

Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Flores. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Flores, 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.