A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nairobi vs. Porto for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nairobi or Porto?

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 Porto 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 Porto?

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.

Porto

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Porto or Nairobi?

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 Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Porto is $187. 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 Porto in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $12
    Porto $84
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $24
    Porto $168
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Porto

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Porto? 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 Nairobi


Hotels in Porto


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 Porto Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $11
    Porto $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi

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


  • Taxi from Airport
    $9.23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi

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

  • Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
  • Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or city To Maasai Mara By Road: $135
  • Private Transfers from Nairobi Airport to Hotels: $100
  • Nairobi National Park Game Drive and Transfer: $95
  • Airport/hotel/transfers In Van/bus/sedan Car Within Nairobi: $80
  • Private Transfer from Nairobi to Naivasha: $70
  • Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
  • Nairobi - Maasai Mara Shuttle Transfers. : $61
  • Airport and Hotel Private Transfers.: $59
  • Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels : $55
  • Private Luxury airport Taxi transfer Services Nairobi JKIA to City Hotels: $50
  • Private Transfer from Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) to Nairobi: $42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto

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

  • Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $30
  • Service Transfer Airport to Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia: $64
  • Private transfer between Porto and Algarve with 1 stop: $558
  • Private Transfer to Porto from Tarouca: $135
  • Private Transfer to Lisbon from Tarouca: $293
  • Porto Airport: Transfer to/from Valenca Do Minho Station: $12
  • Porto Airport Transfer: $24
  • Madeira: Vereda do Larano Trail One-Way Transfer Service: $23
  • Madeira: Porto da Cruz to Machico Hiking Tour with Transfer: $39
  • Funchal to Porto Moniz: Volcanic Pools Day Transfer: $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Porto?

Prices for flights to both Porto 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Nairobi $13
    Porto $74
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi

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


  • 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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto

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

  • Porto Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $46
    Porto $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi

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


  • 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:

  • Day Tour Amboseli Park From Nairobi: $180
  • Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour: $95
  • Lake Naivasha Full day Tour With Boat Rides: $156
  • Local Lunch and Beer Tasting Experience: $90
  • Nairobi National Park Morning Or Evening Game Drive 4x4 Tour Van: $50
  • Nairobi park Tour 6.A.M-11.AM: $70
  • Private 4WD Lake Nakuru Day Tour from Nairobi: $190
  • 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha : $139
  • 1 Day Tour Hiking Mt. Longonot and lake Naivasha Boat ride : $75
  • 1 Day Tour Nairobi National Park,Giraffe Center&Karen Blixen: $46
  • 1-Day Hiking Adventure at Mount Longonot from Nairobi: $170
  • 2 Days Group Safari to Amboseli using a Landcruiser 4x4 Jeep: $260

Tours and Activities in Porto

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.

  • 3 Hour Tuk tuk Tour in Porto: $215
  • 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $52
  • Aveiro and Costa Nova Half Day Tour from Porto with Boat Ride: $55
  • Braga & Guimarães Small Group Tour: Lunch & All Tickets Included: $167
  • Breathtaking Nature in Gerês Park - Private tour from Porto: $130
  • Daytime Sailing Adventure near Lagos and Luz!: $167
  • Douro Sunset Sailboat Experience in Porto: $70
  • Douro Valley : 2 wineries, Tastings, Lunch & Scenic River Cruise: $161
  • Douro Valley Tour: 2 Vineyard Visits, River Cruise, Winery Lunch: $113
  • Douro Valley and Régua Panoramic Cruise with Lunch from Porto: $92
  • Douro Valley: Historical Sites, Wine Experience, Lunch & Cruise: $106
  • Douro: luxury & private tour with picnic lunch at Quinta da Roêda: $293

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $16
    Porto $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Porto

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:

  • Luxury Yacht Cruise with Wine Tasting & Snacks: $54
  • Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings | 12 Participants Maximum: $60
  • Port Wine Lodges Tour Including 7 Port Wine Tastings (English): $62
  • Authentic Food and Wine Tour in Porto by Food Lover Tour: $81
  • Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, Cruise and Lunch from Porto : $96
  • Douro Valley Wine Tour: 3 Vineyard Visits, Wine Tastings, Lunch: $113
  • Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise: $118
  • Douro Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Winery and Lunch From Porto: $131
  • Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise: $131
  • Small Group Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch and Cruise: $149
  • Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch and Boat: $150
  • Douro Valley Tour - 3 Wine tastings, Lunch & river Cruise: $152


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Porto, we can see that Porto 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 Porto 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 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 Porto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Porto 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 Porto Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Porto?

Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Porto. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Porto, 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.