Which place is cheaper, Jakarta 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 Jakarta?
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 Jakarta. 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 Jakarta?
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.
Jakarta
As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesJakarta Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Jakarta $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Jakarta is $68. 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 Jakarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Jakarta $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Jakarta $60
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Jakarta
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Jakarta? 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 Jakarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Jakarta $18
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: $140
- Diani Airport – Kenya Coast Beach Hotel Transfers: $131
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $112
- Private Day Tour of Mombasa City with Transfers: $104
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $93
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $81
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $79
- From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $75
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $72
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA): $57
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$0.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Soekarno Hatta Int. Airport To Bogor city ( Private Transfer ): $30
- Private Transfer from West Jakarta to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $34
- Private Transfer from West Jakarta to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $34
- Private Transfer from Tebet to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $34
- Private Transfer from Tanah Abang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $34
- Private Transfer from Tanah Abang to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $34
- Private Transfer from Taman Sari to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $34
- Private Transfer from Taman Sari to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $34
- Private Transfer from Sunter to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $34
- Private Transfer from Sunter to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $34
- Private Transfer from Sumur Batu to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $41
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Jakarta?
Prices for flights to both Jakarta 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 $41Jakarta $26
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 Cooking Class Experience with a Local Chef: $65
- Diani Beach Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $70
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.45
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Dinner$0.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fun Food Tour Jakarta: $30
- Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
- Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $50
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Jakarta $11
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 Wasini Dolphin Tour From Diani Beach: $110
- City Tour with Ghalib: $75
- Day Tour Experience to Tsavo East National Park: $190
- Day tour to Shimba hills National Reserve from Mombasa/Diani: $336
- Diani: Full-day Guided Mombasa City Tour from Diani: $110
- Elky Diani Glass Bottom Tour to Robinson Island: $35
- Elky Shimba Hills and Sheldrick Waterfall Day Tour: $250
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $40
- Full Day Group Joining Tour In Mombasa From Kilindin Harbour Port: $144
- Full Day Group Joining Tour in Mombasa from Kilindini Harbour: $139
- Full Day Mombasa City Tour with a Local Guide: $130
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- 1 Day Jakarta Historical Tour: $75
- 1 Day Motorcycle Adventure Tour West Java: $205
- 1 Day Motorcycle Tour To Citorek Banten West Of Java: $213
- 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
- Afternoon city tour Jakarta: $82
- Bandung City Tour Mountain Volcano and Hotspring ( Start From Jakarta): $154
- Batik Course & City Tour Jakarta: $60
- Bogor City Full-Day Private Tour from Jakarta with Pick Up: $160
- Bogor City Tour Nature waterfall with Local Food ( Start From Jakarta ): $130
- City Tour Jakarta: $75
- City Tour Jakarta with Private Guide: $80
- Customized Private Tour Jakarta With Lunch: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.82Jakarta $3.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Jakarta, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Jakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mombasa is in Africa and Jakarta is in Asia, 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 Jakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jakarta 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 Jakarta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Jakarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Jakarta?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Jakarta, 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.