Which place is cheaper, Antananarivo or Mombasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $65Antananarivo $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $65, while the average daily cost in Antananarivo is $72. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $27Antananarivo $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $54Antananarivo $60
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Antananarivo $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Mombasa: $20
- Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Mombasa Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa Port: $33
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $33
- Private Luxury Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport: $33
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Nyali, Bamburi & Shanzu: $33
- Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Nyali/Bamburi: $37
- Mombasa Town: Private Airport Transfer to Hotel and AirBnB: $40
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $44
- 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: $43
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
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Food Meals for one dayMombasa $24Antananarivo $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Swahili Street Food Tour: $45
- Special African Dinner: $46
- Fort Jesus Mombasa Light and music Night Shows With Dinner.: $46
- Dhow Cruise Tour And Dinner Or Lunch Tours.: $51
- Experience Swahili Cuisine Cooking Class With a Local Host.: $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.
- Street food and Cooking class tour in Antananarivo: $163
- Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Antananarivo $24
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: $16
- Mombasa walking tour: $20
- 2 hour Authentic Cultual Experience: $25
- Mombasa:Street food Experience: $27
- Mombasa Fun and hidden Gems tour: $30
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $30
- Private Canoe Tour to Experience the Gorgeous Kongo River Estuary: $30
- Mombasa Old Town Walking Tour: $30
- Mombasa City Tour,Fortjesus,Oldtown,Tusks and Spice Market.: $35
- Mombasa City: Children's Homes Visit And Donation Tour.: $36
- Mombasa City Half Day Walking Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $39
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: $682
- Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
- Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
- Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $23
- Day - Tour Ampefy: $144
- Day tour discovery Tour to Ampefy village: $272
- From 9 days unique adventure trip to Tulear: $1,971
- Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $201
- Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
- Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
- Madagascar Adventures on Tana, West, East, North, and South: $2,550
- Madagascar: Andasibe and Nosy Be Tour in one week: $2,240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.99Antananarivo $9.65
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.
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.