Which place is cheaper, Aswan 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 Aswan?
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 Aswan. 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 Aswan?
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.
Aswan
Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesAswan Prices
Egypt Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Aswan $29
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Aswan is $29. 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 Aswan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Aswan $9.72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Aswan $19
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Aswan
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Aswan? 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 Aswan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Aswan $5.33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Safe Private Airport Transfer in Mombasa: $19
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $35
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $35
- Transfer From Mombasa (Moi Airport/SGR) To Diani: $35
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $37
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- 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 Arrival Transfer in Mombasa: $60
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $74
- Airport Transfers to Watamu and Malindi: $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:
- luxor Airport Private Transfer: $14
- VIP Transfer – Private Pickup & Drop-off from Aswan Airport: $35
- Transfer to Luxor from Aswan with 2stops in Komombo& EdfuTemples: $55
- Transfer from Aswan Train Station to your hotel or the opposite: $30
- Shared Transfer: Aswan Airport to Hotels: $15
- Round-Trip Transfer from Aswan to Abu Simbel: $115
- Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
- Private transfer from Hotel To Aswan Airport: $35
- Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $90
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
- Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
- Private transfer from Aswan Airport to Aswan Hotels: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Aswan?
Prices for flights to both Aswan 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 $41Aswan $15
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.
- Night Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $42
- Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
- Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75
- Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Aswan $9.14
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mombasa City Tour with Dido: $25
- Mombasa Guided City Tour Experience: $25
- Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $28
- Mombasa walking tour: $30
- Mombasa city tour: $30
- Private Historical Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest Tour with Guide: $31
- Kongo River Sunset Experience in Canoe: $32
- Diani Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $35
- Fort Jesus & Mombasa Old Town Walking CityTour: $38
- Private Mombasa Food & Sightseeing Tour: $39
- Mombasa City Tour: $40
- Half day city tour of mombasa: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:
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Temple Kom Ombo for Two$1.18
Tours and Activities in Aswan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:
- 2 Day Aswan Tour+Hotel Includ:Abu Simbel, Philae& Nubian Village: $190
- 2 Days Private Tour in Aswan and Abu Simbel: $85
- 2 Hours Private Sound and Light Show Tour in Philae Temple: $85
- 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
- 2-Day Luxor Small-Group Tour from Aswan with Felucca Ride: $120
- 3 Days Private Tour to Abu Simble, Balloon Ride, Aswan and Luxor: $299
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Nubian Village from Aswan: $33
- 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure: $25
- 4 Days Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor & Abu Simbel. Hot air Balloon: $200
- 4-Day Nile Cruise sails Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel.Hot air Balloon: $249
- 4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor Abu Simbel. Air Balloon: $275
- 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 Nights Kayaking Adventure from Aswan to Luxor: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Aswan $1.04
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Aswan, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aswan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aswan 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 Mombasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mombasa than you might in Aswan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Aswan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Aswan?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Aswan, 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.