Which place is cheaper, Kampala 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.
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Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Kampala?
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 Kampala can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Kampala?
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.
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesKampala Prices
Uganda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $493Kampala $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $493, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $81. 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 Kampala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $452Kampala $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $904Kampala $126
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Kampala
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam or Kampala? 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: Dar es Salaam Hotel Prices and Kampala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $14Kampala $2.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Classic Day trip: Train Transfer To Mikumi National Park: $340
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $120
- Zanzibar Ferry & Hotel Transfer: $125
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $106
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$4.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Entebbe kampala airport transfers: $100
- Private Entebbe Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-off 24/7: $80
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $80
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $80
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Kampala?
Prices for flights to both Kampala 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
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Food Meals for one dayDar es Salaam $33Kampala $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dar es Salaam
For Dar es Salaam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taste of Tanzania Cooking Class and Food Tour: $20
- Tuk-Tuk Food Tour: $110
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
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Lunch for 2$1.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Like a local cooking Tours: $26
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
- The Food Tour | Uganda | Half day: $123
- uganda fun time (bed,breakfast, lunch and dinner ) : $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Kampala -
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- Guided Fish Market Tour: $25
- Dar es Salaam Walking Tour: History and Hidden Treasures: $30
- Dar es Salaam City Center: Walking Tour: $30
- Private Insightful City Tour of Dar es Salaam: $34
- Tuk-Tuk Tour, Street Food & Local Lifestyle: $39
- City Tour with National Museum & Market Visit: $40
- Walking Tour Dar es Salaam City: $47
- Daressalaam city sightseeing private tour: $55
- Nightlife Tour with Local Guide: $60
- Exclusive Beach and Resort Experience: $65
- City Tour: $77
- Dar-es-Salaam city tour (Day trip) unforgettable memory: $80
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover the Magic of Uganda's Equator on a 1-Day Tour: $136
- 1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Lake Victoria: $160
- 1 Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $50
- 1 Day Best of Mabamba Shoebill Bird Watching Tour in Entebbe: $135
- 1 Day Jinja & Source of the Nile River tour (female guided): $230
- 1 Day Jinja and Source of the Nile River Tour: $200
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $290
- 1 Day Shoebill Stork and Birding Experience : $190
- 1 Day Uganda Equator Tour From Kampala To Kayabwe: $122
- 1 Day Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Safari and Wildlife Tour, Uganda: $300
- 1 day Mabamba (Shoebill) bird watching tour - Shoebill & canoe tour: $205
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.97Kampala -
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
- Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Kampala, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampala 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 Kampala.
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 Kampala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Kampala?
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Kampala, 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.