Which place is cheaper, Cairo or Mombasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mombasa or Cairo?
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 Cairo. 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 Cairo?
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.
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $65Cairo $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $65, while the average daily cost in Cairo is $17. 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 Cairo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $27Cairo $9.36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $54Cairo $19
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Cairo
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Cairo? 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 Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Cairo $2.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer from Mombasa Moi International Airport(MBA): $75
- Airport Transfers to Watamu and Malindi : $75
- Diani Airport – Kenya Coast Beach Hotel Transfers: $131
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $44
- Mombasa Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $74
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $105
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $74
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Nyali, Bamburi & Shanzu: $33
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Vipingo and Kilifi: $86
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Malindi Hotels: $131
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- transfer from Cairo airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $20
- private transfer from or to cairo international Airport: $15
- private tour to Abusimble transfer to Luxor and visiting Edfu : $175
- VIP Meet and Assist at Cairo Airport with Private Hotel Transfer: $35
- Two-Day Private City Tour of Cairo, Giza Pyramids and Saqqara+Airport Transfer: $220
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo HTL-APT (CAI): $33
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo APT-HTL (CAI): $33
- Transfer your private departure from your hotel to Cairo Airport: $20
- Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor (sharing ): $109
- Transfer from Hurghada to Cairo by van : $235
- Transfer from Cairo to Ain El Sokhna : $70
- Transfer from Cairo or Giza Hotels to Cairo Airport: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Cairo?
Prices for flights to both Cairo 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 $24Cairo $4.75
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
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Cairo/Giza: Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show & Private Transfer : $9.63
- Cairo Dinner Cruise, Belly Dancer Show With Pickup Service: $11
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $12
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $16
- VIP tour Giza pyramids ,Sphinx, Quad bike ,Camel, Dinner cruise : $19
- Private Expert tour Giza Pyramids ,Sphinx ,Nile Dinner Cruise & Belly Dancer: $19
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $19
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, Quad Bike, Night and Dinner Cruise on Nile: $19
- Private Cairo Food Tour : $20
- All inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & ATV &Dinner cruise : $20
- Giza pyramids and Nile dinner cruise private tour from Cairo Giza hotels: $22
- Private Cairo food tour and Egyptian tea: $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Cairo $5.75
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.84
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.49
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
- 2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo : $300
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $219
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 3-Day Private Tour in Cairo : $196
- 3-Day Tour at Cairo & Giza : $200
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209
- 8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars: $26
- All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
- All Inclusive Full-Day Tour to Pyramids, Museum, mosque and Felucca: $79
- All Inclusive day tour to Giza pyramids, Egyptian museum and Felucca : $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.99Cairo $1.17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Cairo, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Cairo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Cairo?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Cairo, 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 Cairo?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Mombasa or Cairo in the Summer?
Both Cairo and Mombasa during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mombasa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
Mombasa usually gets more rain in July than Cairo. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the summer, Mombasa often gets less sunshine than Cairo. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 350 hours of full sun.
In July, Mombasa is generally cooler than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 24°C (75°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Cairo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Cairo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Cairo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Mombasa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Cairo. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cairo during autumn. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 290 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Mombasa is a little warmer than Cairo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Cairo fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Cairo 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Cairo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Cairo. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
Mombasa usually gets more rain in January than Cairo. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the winter, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Cairo. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairo receives 221 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Mombasa is much warmer than Cairo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mombasa in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Cairo averages at about 14°C (57°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Cairo 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Cairo in the Spring?
Both Cairo and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Mombasa. In April, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Cairo. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Cairo receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Cairo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives less sunshine than Cairo during spring. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Cairo receives 276 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Mombasa is generally a little warmer than Cairo. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Cairo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Cairo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Cairo and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Cairo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.