Which place is cheaper, Antsiranana or Mombasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Mombasa or Antsiranana?
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 Antsiranana. 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 Antsiranana?
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.
Antsiranana
Antsiranana is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Diana, and until 1975 it was known as Diego Suarez. The city has a port that has become a site for naval repairs and is the largest in the entire Indian Ocean. The port is mainly used for tinned fish and bottled drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The city has a population of a little over 100,000. The French used the city as a military base after independence from 1960 until 1973, after the socialist revolution.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Adventure Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesAntsiranana Prices
Madagascar Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Antsiranana $120
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Antsiranana is $120. 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 Antsiranana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Antsiranana $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Antsiranana $90
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Antsiranana
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Antsiranana? 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 Antsiranana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Antsiranana $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Mombasa (Moi Airport/SGR) To Diani: $35
- Safe Private Airport Transfer in Mombasa: $19
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA): $58
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa Port: $58
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $58
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $35
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $35
- Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
- Private Arrival Transfer in Mombasa: $60
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Antsiranana?
Prices for flights to both Antsiranana 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 $41Antsiranana $63
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
- Diani Beach Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $71
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $138
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Antsiranana $19
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Group tour to Tsavo East National Park with Buffet Lunch: $160
- 1 Day Malindi day Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $194
- 1 Day Wasini Dolphin Tour From Diani Beach: $98
- 1 Day Wasini Snorkelling Tour: $195
- 4 Hours Guided Mombasa City Tour: $45
- City Tour with Ghalib: $77
- Day Tour To Shimba Hill Reserve From Mombasa: $270
- Day Wasini Private Boat Tour with Snorkeling And Seafood: $244
- Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest Guided Tour: $75
- Diani Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $35
- Fort Jesus & Mombasa Old Town Walking CityTour: $38
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $40
Tours and Activities in Antsiranana
For Antsiranana, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Amber Mountain and Red Tsingy Full-Day Tour: $232
- Baobab and Trois Baies Tour for Cruise Passengers: $141
- Day tour in Amber Mountain: $287
- Emerald Sea Tour for swim & lunch (Guided Tour): $104
- Lemurs, Rainforest, and Nosy Be Tour: $1,800
- Tuk-Tuk Tour with Ramena Beach and Lunch: $87
- City Tour in TukTuk in shopping excursion and visit to the baobabs: $67
- MADAGASCAR DIEGO SUAREZ: CITY TOUR: $65
- MADAGASCAR STOP CRUISE: DIEGO SUAREZ CITY TOUR & RELAXATION AT THE BEACH: $127
- Madagascar: 17-Day North & Northeast Guided Tour: $1,736
- Red Tsingy Tour: Cruise Ship Experience on Diego Suarez: $150
- Red Tsingy and Lemurs: Day Trips for Cruise Ship Passengers in Antsiranana: $118
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Antsiranana $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Antsiranana, we can see that Antsiranana is more expensive. And not only is Mombasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Antsiranana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antsiranana 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 Antsiranana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Antsiranana?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Antsiranana. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Antsiranana, 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.