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

Should you visit Mombasa or Antananarivo?

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 Antananarivo. 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 Antananarivo?

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.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Mombasa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $64, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $70. 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 Antananarivo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mombasa $26
    Antananarivo $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mombasa $52
    Antananarivo $58
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Antananarivo

Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Antananarivo? 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 Antananarivo


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 Antananarivo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Antananarivo $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa

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

  • Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
  • Mombasa Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Mombasa Private Airport Transfer: Cheap & Comfortable: $34
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Nyali, Bamburi & Shanzu: $34
  • Private Luxury Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport: $34
  • Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $34
  • Private Transfer from Mombasa: $35
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $35
  • Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Nyali/Bamburi: $38
  • Mombasa Town: Private Airport Transfer to Hotel and AirBnB: $40
  • Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
  • Private One-Way Mombasa Airport Transfer: $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $100
  • Madagascar: Airport Ivato transfer to hotel: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Antananarivo?

Prices for flights to both Antananarivo 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 $24
    Antananarivo $28

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
  • Fort Jesus Sound and Light Show Tour With Dinner.: $46
  • Fort Jesus Light and music Night Shows With Dinner.: $47
  • Swahili food Cooking Class Experience: $47
  • Momobasa: Food tour,Swahili culture,spice market experience: $130

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

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

  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Antananarivo $23

Tours and Activities in Mombasa

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

  • Holy Ghost Cathedral (1914) entry and guided tour: $10
  • Mombasa walking tour: $20
  • Private Canoe Tour to Experience the Gorgeous Kongo River Estuary: $25
  • Historical Guided city tour. Fort Jesus, old town.: $25
  • 2 hour Authentic Cultual Experience: $25
  • Mombasa Fun and hidden Gems tour: $26
  • Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $28
  • The Blue Radio Experience in Mombasa!: $30
  • Mombasa Old Town Walking Tour: $30
  • Mombasa:Guided city tour,beach and Fort Jesus Museum: $30
  • Diani Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $33
  • Mombasa City tour; floating bridge,tusks,Fort Jesus: $35

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:

  • 3 days -Wildlife and Lemur discovery Tour to Andasibe: $1,000
  • AUTHENTIC ADVENTURES IN THE HEART OF NATURE ANTANANARIVO: $3,293
  • Antananarivo : Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $36
  • Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
  • Guided Tour and sunset in queen's palace: $65
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
  • Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $24
  • Day - Tour Ampefy: $148
  • From 9 days unique adventure trip to Tulear: $2,140
  • Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $210
  • Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
  • Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mombasa $8.85
    Antananarivo $9.39

Sample the Local Flavors in Mombasa

Also in Mombasa, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Coastal Pub Crawl - Bamburi Drunk Tour: $25


When comparing the travel costs between Mombasa and Antananarivo, we can see that Antananarivo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Antananarivo?

Antananarivo has a larger population, and is about 74% larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Antananarivo, 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.