Which place is cheaper, Drakensberg 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 Drakensberg?
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 Drakensberg. 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 Drakensberg?
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.
Drakensberg
Drakensberg, whose name derives from the Dutch and means "mountains of the dragons," is a mountainous region which encompasses a vast amount of South Africa's interior, extending into neighboring countries as well. It hugs the eastern border of Lesotho, attracting visitors for hiking, backpacking, and admiring the natural wonders of the landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesDrakensberg Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Drakensberg $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Drakensberg is $100. 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 Drakensberg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Drakensberg $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Drakensberg $74
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Drakensberg
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Drakensberg? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Drakensberg $67
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: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Nyali/Bamburi: $40
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA): $76
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $42
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City Hotels to Mombasa Cruise Port: $76
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $42
- Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
- Private Day Tour of Mombasa City with Transfers: $104
- Nairobi: Private Kibera Slum Tour with Roundtrip Transfer.: $28
- Mombasa Train Station Private Transfer to Kikambala/Vipingo: $63
- Mombasa Town: Private Airport Transfer to Hotel and AirBnB: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Drakensberg?
Prices for flights to both Drakensberg 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 $41Drakensberg $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1-Hour city tour, food tour, cultural tour: $25
- Fort Jesus Sound & Lights Show And Romantic Dinner.: $38
- Special African Dinner: $46
- Fort Jesus Light and music Night Shows With Dinner.: $49
- Swahili food Cooking Class Experience: $49
- Swahili Street Food Tour: $50
- Swahili Street Food Tour: $55
- Spicy Food Tour in Mombasa Streets And City tour: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Drakensberg $8.45
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day Private Mombasa Tour: $170
- Kongo River Sunset Experience in Canoe: $39
- Mombasa Getaway with Haller Park Tours: $120
- The Best Of Mombasa Walking Tour: $221
- 1 Day Group tour to Tsavo East National Park with Buffet Lunch: $160
- 1 Day Malindi day Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $194
- Day Tour To Tsavo East National Park: $240
- Day tour to Shimba hills National Reserve from Mombasa/Diani: $336
- Day tour to Tsavo East National Park from Mombasa or Diani: $353
- Diani Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $33
- Diani: Full-day Guided Mombasa City Tour from Diani: $110
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Drakensberg $3.67
Sample the Local Flavors in Mombasa
Also in Mombasa, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Coastal Pub Crawl - Bamburi Drunk Tour: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Drakensberg, we can see that Drakensberg 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 Drakensberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Drakensberg 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 Drakensberg Expensive?.
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.