Which place is cheaper, Athens 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 Athens?
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 Athens. 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 Athens?
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.
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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 Greece, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesAthens Prices
Greece Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Athens $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Athens is $176. 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 Athens in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Athens $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Athens $144
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Athens
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Athens? 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 Athens Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Athens $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $111
- Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $93
- Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
- From Mombasa Airport Diani Transfer in a Minivan 5 Pax: $75
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $72
- Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA): $57
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa Port: $57
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $57
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two$7.32
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Metro$1.71
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Metro$2.29
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Metro from Airport to City Center$9.14
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Taxi from Airport$40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VipTransfer From /To Athens Airport - Lavrio Port: $220
- Vip Transfer From/To Athens Center - Lavrio Port: $290
- VIP Ferry Ticket From Piraeus Port To Santorini & Private Transfer Included: $266
- Transfers and Guided Tours in all over Greece, sightseeing and Private hire!!: $104
- Transfer from or to Athens Airport: $93
- Transfer from Piraeus port to Athens hotel or Glyfada Riviera hotel: $116
- Transfer from Piraeus port to Athens Airport and Vice Versa 22:30PM - 06:29AM: $162
- Transfer from Athens/Pireaus/ATH Airport/Suburbs to Mati/Marathon/Nea Makri: $174
- Transfer from Athens-Pireaus-Athens Airport to Corinth-Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi: $232
- Transfer from Athens City Center to Athens Airport (ATH): $51
- Transfer from Athens Airport to Vouliagmeni: $110
- Transfer from Athens Airport (ATH) to Athens City Center: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Athens?
Prices for flights to both Athens 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 $41Athens $74
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
- Sultan's Spoon Mombasa Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- 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: $70
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $135
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream$3.43
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Souvlaki$2.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $49
- Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $68
- Athens's original vegan food tour: $75
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $76
- Athens Street Food Tour: Taste the best street food: $79
- Sunset Tour to Temple of Poseidon with Dinner Stop from Athens: $80
- Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $80
- Small Group Greek Traditional Food Tour in Athens 20+ Tastings: $81
- Taste of Athens Small-Group Food Tour: $81
- Athens Food Tour: Flavors of Asia Minor (private group): $81
- Greek Cooking Class near Poseidon’s Temple in Sounio with Antonia: $90
- Eat like an Athenian food tour of Athens: $92
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Athens $41
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: $110
- 4 Hours Guided Mombasa City Tour: $45
- City Tour with Ghalib: $75
- Diani Beach Village Tour and Wildlife Park Day Trip: $218
- Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest Guided Tour: $75
- Elky Diani Glass Bottom Tour to Robinson Island: $35
- Elky Shimba Hills and Sheldrick Waterfall Day Tour: $250
- Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town City Tour: $80
- Full Day Group Joining Tour In Mombasa From Kilindin Harbour Port: $140
- Full Day Group Joining Tour in Mombasa from Kilindini Harbour: $149
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- "A Must-See" Anc. Epidaurus, Mycenae & Nafplion Premium Full Day Tour By Locals: $209
- "Athens City Tour - 4 Hours": $165
- "Athens Highlights Tour : Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and more.": $173
- "Athens Night Experience - 4Hours": $165
- "Athens in a Day: A Full-Day Tour of the City’s Top Highlights": $252
- "Athens in a Glimpse with Cruise Port Pickup & Drop-Off": $173
- "Discover Argolis: All-Day Tour to Nafplio,Mycenae & Epidaurus": $299
- "Full-Day Tour of Delphi and Picturesque Livadia": $299
- "Spetses in a Day from Athens : A Cosmopolitan Island Experience”: $299
- "Tour of Ancient Corinth:Follow in the footsteps of Apostle Paul": $197
- 1 Day Hymettus Athens Private Hiking Tour with Hotel Pickup: $174
- 1 Day Parnitha Athens Private Hiking Tour with Hotel Pickup: $174
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.84Athens $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Greek Honey Tasting Experience at our Old Distillery: $13
- Polykala Distillery: 128 years of history & liqueur tasting.: $16
- Athens Rooftop Pub Crawl Acropolis Views and Nightclub Fun: $17
- Athens Party Pub Crawl w/ 1-hour Open Bar & VIP Nightclub Access: $21
- Athens Exclusive Hellenic Wine Tasting Experience at Brettos: $37
- Athens Small Group Wine Tasting with a Sommelier: $52
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $57
- Athens bar crawl: $58
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store: $65
- Athens Olive oil Honey and Wine Tasting with Snacks Experience: $88
- Wine tasting tour of Athens Greece: $122
- Athens Highlights: Private Half-Day Tour With Wine Tasting: $123
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Athens, we can see that Athens 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 Athens 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens 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 Athens Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Athens?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Athens, 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.
When is the best time to visit Mombasa or Athens?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mombasa experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Mombasa or Athens in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Athens. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year.
In the summer, Mombasa is cooler than Athens. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mombasa in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Athens averages at about 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives less sunshine than Athens during summer. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Athens receives 357 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Athens. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Athens receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Athens 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Athens in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Athens. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Mombasa is generally a little warmer than Athens. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 26°C (79°F), and Athens fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the autumn, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Athens. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Athens receives 206 hours of full sun.
Mombasa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa usually gets more rain in October than Athens. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Athens receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Athens 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Athens in the Winter?
Both Athens and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Athens in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Mombasa is much warmer than Athens in the winter. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Athens fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Athens during winter. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Athens receives 143 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Athens. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Athens receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Athens 10°C (51°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Athens in the Spring?
Both Athens and Mombasa during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mombasa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Mombasa is much warmer than Athens. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mombasa in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Athens averages at about 16°C (60°F).
In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the spring, Mombasa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Athens. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Athens receives 226 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually gets more rain in April than Athens. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Athens receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Athens 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Athens and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Athens | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
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.