Which place is cheaper, Durban or Mombasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mombasa or Durban?
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 Durban. 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 Durban?
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.
Durban
The third largest city in South Africa, Durban sits on the east coast of the country in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city also has the country's most active port. The city's comfortable weather and vast beaches make it one of the country's major tourist centers. There's a population of about 3.5 million in the entire metropolitan area that spreads over 2,295 square kilometers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $65Durban $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $65, while the average daily cost in Durban is $52. 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 Durban in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $27Durban $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $54Durban $48
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Durban
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Durban? 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 Durban Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Durban $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Malindi Hotels: $131
- Diani Airport – Kenya Coast Beach Hotel Transfers: $131
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Airport Transfers : $129
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $105
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $87
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Vipingo and Kilifi: $86
- Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
- Airport Transfer from Mombasa Moi International Airport(MBA): $75
- Airport Transfers to Watamu and Malindi : $75
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $74
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Durban
Also for Durban, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfers from King Shaka Airport: $106
- From Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Overnight Safari w/ Transfer: $485
- Durban to Durban King Airport (DUR) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Durban King Airport (DUR) to Durban - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Durban Airport (DUR) to Durban - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Arrival Private Transfer from Durban Airport DUR to Durban City by Minivan: $84
- 1-3 Passenger Private Durban - Airport Transfer: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Durban?
Prices for flights to both Durban 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 $24Durban $16
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Durban
For Durban, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guided Taste of Africa Food Tour in Durban: $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Durban $16
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
- Mombasa Getaway with Haller Park Tours: $130
- Private Tour of Tsavo East National Park from Mombasa: $270
- The Best Of Mombasa Walking Tour: $208
- 1 Day Malindi day Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $194
- Aquatic experiences at the coastal of Mombasa-Nyali.: $90
- Day Tour To Mombasa: $145
- Day Tour to Tsavo East National Park from Mombasa: $268
- Day tour to Tsavo east national park from Mombasa: $279
- Dolphin tour and snorkeling in kisite marine park / wasini island: $70
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $30
- Full Day Mombasa Excursion Tour : $133
Tours and Activities in Durban
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Durban.
- 1/2 Day Durban City & Phezulu Tour From Durban: $145
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $143
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour: $113
- 1/2 Day Durban City Tour & Phezulu Tour: $142
- 1/2 Day Phezulu Safari Tour from Durban: $146
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Lion Park Tour From Durban: $147
- 1/2 Day Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park Tour from Durban: $147
- 1/2 Day Tour to Drakensberg Mountains & Hiking from Durban: $155
- 1/2 Tala Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park Tour: $148
- 12 Days Best Of South Africa Tour - Johannesburg to CapeTown: $3,257
- 15 Day Tour Cape Town to Johannesburg: $3,257
- 2 Day Hluhluwe Imfolo & Isimangaliso W/Park Tour from Durban: $616
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.99Durban $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Durban
Also in Durban, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Durban : $36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Durban, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Durban much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durban would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durban 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 Durban.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Durban Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Durban?
Durban has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Durban, 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 Durban?
Durban 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 Durban in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Durban. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round.
Mombasa is around the same temperature as Durban in the summer. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Durban fluctuates around 25°C (76°F)in January.
In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Durban during summer. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Durban receives 184 hours of full sun in the summer.
Durban receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Durbanin January. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Durban receives 134 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMombasa 24°C (75°F)Durban 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Durban in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Durban. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Mombasa is a little warmer than Durban. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mombasa in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Durban averages at about 22°C (71°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durban. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the autumn, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Durbanin April. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durban receives 206 hours of full sun.
Mombasa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa usually gets more rain in October than Durbanin April. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Durban receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilMombasa 26°C (79°F)Durban 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Durban in the Winter?
Both Durban and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year.
In January, Mombasa is generally much warmer than Durbanin July. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Durban fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It's quite sunny in Durban. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Durban during winter. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Durban receives 230 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Mombasa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Durbanin July. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Durban receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyMombasa 27°C (81°F)Durban 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Durban in the Spring?
Both Durban 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.
Mombasa is a little warmer than Durban in the spring. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Durban fluctuates around 21°C (69°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the spring, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Durbanin October. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durban receives 169 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually gets more rain in April than Durbanin October. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Durban receives 98 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberMombasa 27°C (81°F)Durban 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Durban and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Durban | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 102 mm (4 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.