Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Calgary 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: Nairobi or Calgary?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesCalgary Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67Calgary $177
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $177. 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 Nairobi and Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Calgary $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Calgary? 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Calgary $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers: $40
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
- Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels : $55
- Airport/hotel/transfers In Van/bus/sedan Car Within Nairobi: $80
- From JKIA Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax max): $35
- From Wilson Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax): $30
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- Nairobi - Maasai Mara Shuttle Transfers. : $61
- Nairobi Airport Transfer, Hotel Pick up and Drop Off: $20
- Nairobi Airport Transfers to Wilson Airport or City Hotels: $28
- Nairobi National Park Game Drive and Transfer: $95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Private Transfers during Calgary Stampede: $72
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $109
- Private Transfer within Calgary from Airport or Hotels: $110
- Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury SUV: $141
- From Bus Transfer to Jasper: $154
- From Bus Transfer to Banff: $60
- Experience Private Airport Transfer in Calgary: $51
- Departure Private Transfer: Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury Van: $141
- Departure Private Transfer: Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Business Car: $118
- Prvt. Transfer YYC Airport to WinSport Olympic Park: $86
- Private Transfer to Calgary from Airport: $150
- Private Transfer to Banff: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Calgary $54
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class and Dining Experience: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
- Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers : $100
- Authentic Local Kenyan Food Tour: $108
- Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $125
- Nairobi Carnivore Restaurant Lunch / Dinner Experience: $125
- Barbecue Dinner & Entertainment in Nairobi : $135
Typical Food Prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
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Bread, Chips, Cheese$8.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
- Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
- Pasta Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
- Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $80
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $127
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Calgary $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Nairobi Walking City Culture Tour: $20
- Nairobi Historic Downtown City WalkingTour: $20
- Nairobi City Walk Tour : $23
- Nairobi City Tour: $25
- Mathare Community Slum Tour: $26
- Carnivore Restaurant Nairobi Dinning experience-transport: $30
- Nairobi Historical Walking Half Day Tour : $35
- Kibera Slum Tour with Lucas : $35
- Nairobi national park Elephant orphanage and giraffe center tour.: $38
- Nairobi National Park Half Day Game Drive Tour With FREE Pick up: $39
- Walking tour in Nairobi town: $40
- Nairobi National Park Half-Day Game Drive Guided Tour: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stampede Admission (for 2)$22
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Lake Louise, Moraine Lake & Columbia Icefield Rockies Tour: $80
- 3 Day Banff Moraine Lake Louise Johnston Columbia Icefield Tour : $240
- 6-Hour Private City Tour Drive to Calgary Tower: $682
- Airport Pickup & Private Tour from Calgary to The Rockies!: $256
- Badlands Tour: Drumheller with Museum, Hoodoos & Coal Mine: $121
- Banff Explorer™ Private Tour with Moraine Lake & Lake Louise: $537
- Banff Gondola Hot Springs Bow Falls and Three Lakes tour: $73
- Banff Gondola Upper Hot Springs & Top 3 Lakes Tour from Calgary: $87
- Banff Johnston Canyon and Banff Gondola 1 Day Tour from Calgary: $117
- Banff Mountain Adventure with Hiking and Canoeing Options: $115
- Banff National Park Exclusive Small Group Tour: $73
- Banff National Park Tour with a Small Group: $143
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Calgary $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Calgary Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
- Brewery Tours at Award Winning Venues: $82
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Calgary, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Calgary is in North 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 Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary than you might in Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Calgary?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Calgary. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Calgary, 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.