A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mombasa vs. Ankara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mombasa or Ankara?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mombasa and Ankara. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Mombasa or Ankara?

Mombasa

Mombasa is a beautiful, large city on the eastern coast of Kenya, bordering the Indian Ocean. The city is famous for its stunning beaches, friendly locals, and diverse marine life. Mombasa experiences a tropical climate year round, meaning temperatures rarely drop below 70° Fahrenheit. The rainiest months of the year are April and May and the driest months are January and February. Temperatures tend to be more mild from May through October, usually in the 70's and 80's. Temperatures get much warmer from November through April, with daily averages reaching the high 90's.

Ankara

Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey.


Which place is cheaper, Ankara or Mombasa?

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 Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Ankara is $99. 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 Mombasa and Ankara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mombasa $26
    Ankara $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mombasa $52
    Ankara $80
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Ankara

Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Ankara? 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 Mombasa


Hotels in Ankara


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: Mombasa Hotel Prices and Ankara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Ankara $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa

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

  • Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
  • DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
  • From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $75
  • Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $73
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $37
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $80
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $114
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $81
  • Mombasa Airport Transfers: $129
  • Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
  • Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
  • Private Arrival Transfer in Mombasa: $60

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara

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


  • Metro Ride
    $0.03
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:

  • Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
  • Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $53
  • Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
  • Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $41
  • Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $53
  • Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $50
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $112
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $46
  • Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $112

Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Ankara?

Prices for flights to both Ankara and Mombasa 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
    Mombasa $41
    Ankara $40

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mombasa

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

  • Special African Dinner: $46
  • Mombasa Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
  • Swahili Street Food Tour: $55
  • Swahili Cooking Class Experience with a Local Chef: $65
  • Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $137

Typical Food Prices in Ankara

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:


  • A Quick Lunch
    $0.25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ankara.

  • Baklava Cooking Class: $61
  • Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $70
  • Sustainable Home Cooking Class in Ankara: $85

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Ankara $24

Tours and Activities in Mombasa

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

  • Mombasa Guided City Tour Experience: $25
  • Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $28
  • Tusks, Fort Jesus, Old Town, Beach and City Tour: $30
  • Mombasa city tour: $30
  • Kongo River Sunset Experience in Canoe: $32
  • Mombasa walking tour: $35
  • Mombasa old town Walking Tour and Fort Jesus: $38
  • Private Mombasa Food & Sightseeing Tour: $39
  • Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $40
  • Half day city tour of mombasa: $40
  • Private Mombasa City Tour Watamu Diani and Malindi: $40
  • Mombasa City Tour: $40

Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara

Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Underground City
    $0.17

Tours and Activities in Ankara

Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $34
  • Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $36
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $237
  • Ankara Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
  • 6-Hour Private Tour with Guide, Car, and Lunch: $175
  • Private Guided Walking Tour: $35
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local: $41
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $66
  • Full Day Cappadocia Private Tour: $300
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $185
  • Private Ankara Sightseeing Tour: $300
  • Self-Guided Secrets of Ankara Exploration Game Tour: $31

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mombasa $8.83
    Ankara $11


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

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


Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Ankara?

Ankara has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Ankara, 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.