Arusha is Tanzania's northern safari capital and a vibrant gateway city perched on the lower slopes of Mount Meru. Sitting at roughly 1,400 metres above sea level, the region blends bustling urban energy with dramatic highland scenery and world-class wildlife destinations on its doorstep.
Local currency: Tanzanian Shilling.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Arusha.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel Dorm
- USD 10–18
- Budget Private Room
- USD 25–50
- Mid Range Hotel
- USD 60–130
- Boutique Lodge
- USD 150–280
- Luxury Lodge
- USD 280–600
Food
- Street Snack
- TZS 500–2,000 (USD 0.20–0.80)
- Local Canteen Meal
- TZS 3,000–8,000 (USD 1.20–3.20)
- Cafe Lunch
- USD 5–12
- Mid Range Dinner
- USD 10–20
- Fine Dining Dinner
- USD 25–55
Transport
- Dala Dala City Ride
- TZS 500–1,000 (USD 0.20–0.40)
- Boda Boda Short Trip
- TZS 2,000–5,000 (USD 0.80–2)
- Taxi In City
- TZS 10,000–25,000 (USD 4–10)
- Arusha To Jro Airport
- USD 20–40
- Car Hire Per Day
- USD 60–120 (self-drive) / USD 100–200 (with driver)
- Bus To Dar Es Salaam
- USD 15–25
Activities
- Arusha National Park Day
- USD 45–60 (entry + guide)
- Ngorongoro Crater Day Trip
- USD 180–280 (all-in with transport)
- Tarangire Day Trip
- USD 150–250 (all-in)
- Lake Manyara Day Trip
- USD 130–220 (all-in)
- Mount Meru 3day Trek
- USD 500–800 (guide, porter, park fees)
- Kilimanjaro Climb 7day
- USD 1,500–3,500 depending on route and operator
- Hot Air Balloon Serengeti
- USD 500–600 per person
- Maasai Cultural Visit
- USD 20–40
- Coffee Farm Tour
- USD 30–50
- Lake Duluti Canoe
- USD 25–40
Drinks
- Local Beer In Bar
- TZS 3,000–5,000 (USD 1.20–2)
- Soft Drink
- TZS 1,500–3,000
- Bottled Water
- TZS 500–1,500
- Coffee Cafe
- TZS 3,000–8,000
- Cocktail
- USD 5–12
Sim Card
- Typical
- TZS 2,000–5,000 (USD 0.80–2); data bundles 1GB for ~TZS 3,000
Laundry Per Kg
- Typical
- TZS 2,000–4,000
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Arusha costs end-to-end.
3 Day Budget Trip traveller
Total USD 120–180, Breakdown 2 nights hostel ($30) + food ($30) + city transport ($15) + Arusha National Park ($60) + misc ($20)
7 Day Mid Range traveller
Total USD 1,200–2,000, Breakdown 6 nights mid-range hotel ($600) + food ($200) + Ngorongoro day trip ($250) + Tarangire day trip ($200) + Mount Meru trek ($800) — note: overlapping dates; adjust per actual programme
7 Day Luxury Safari traveller
Total USD 5,000–12,000+, Breakdown Lodge packages on northern circuit typically USD 600–1,500 per person per day all-inclusive
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat where local Tanzanians eat — canteens and market stalls charge a fraction of tourist restaurant prices
Use dala dala (minibus) for city transport instead of taxis — fares are under USD 0.40
Negotiate safari packages: group packages and last-minute deals can cut costs by 30–50%
Visit Arusha National Park rather than Ngorongoro or Serengeti for a fraction of the cost
Mount Meru is much cheaper to climb than Kilimanjaro and nearly as rewarding
Book accommodation directly or through local agents rather than international booking platforms
Bring a local SIM from Vodacom or Airtel for cheap data — USD 1 buys a useful data bundle
Self-cater for some meals — Shoprite in Njiro has good Western options
Travel in the green season (March–May) for dramatically lower accommodation prices (30–50% less)
Share safari vehicles with other travellers to split costs
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Walk around Arusha City Centre and photograph the Clock Tower
Browse Arusha Central Market (free entry)
Visit Arusha Declaration Museum grounds and gardens
Explore the colourful suburbs on foot
Attend Sunday church services (evangelical and Catholic churches have vibrant congregations)
Birdwatching in the gardens of Usa River (walk freely on public roads)
Photograph the Maasai at Tengeru Market (Sundays; market entry free)
Sunset views from any open hilltop east of the city centre
Cultural Heritage Centre — free to browse galleries (no purchase required)
Wander Njiro shopping district and people-watch
Follow the public footpath along the Themi River banks
Enjoy the view of Mount Meru from Arusha's residential streets at dawn