Which place is cheaper, Jinja 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 Jinja?
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 Jinja. 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 Jinja?
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.
Jinja
Jinja is a city located at the source of the Nile in Uganda, Africa. Many backpackers travel to Jinja, as it is known for its white water rafting. This city is the third largest economy in all of the East African Community. It has a population of about 72,000 people.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Wildlife Tours to Uganda, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Uganda.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesJinja Prices
Uganda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Jinja $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Jinja is $116. 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 Jinja in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Jinja $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Jinja $90
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Jinja
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Jinja? 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 Jinja Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Jinja $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers to Watamu and Malindi : $75
- Diani Airport – Kenya Coast Beach Hotel Transfers: $131
- Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $65
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $36
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $78
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Nyali, Bamburi & Shanzu: $35
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Vipingo and Kilifi: $91
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Malindi Hotels: $139
- Mombasa Airport Transfers: $62
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jinja
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jinja:
- 1-Day Source of River Nile Tour with Transfers: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Jinja?
Prices for flights to both Jinja 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 $41Jinja $51
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 $18Jinja $30
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mombasa City tour; Old Town,tusks,Fort Jesus: $20
- Mombasa Half Day City Tour: $20
- Giraffes Feeding Experience At Haller Park by Car.: $25
- FortJesus,OldTown,NatureWalk near Giraffes DayTour.: $26
- Old Town and Haller Park Guided Day Tour.: $26
- Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $28
- Tusks, Fort Jesus, Old Town, Beach and City Tour: $30
- Mombasa Old Town Walking Tour: $30
- Mombasa City: Swahili Cuisines Rich Culinary Heritage Tour.: $31
- Diani Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $33
- Day Tour with Haller Park and Fort Jesus: $34
- City Discovery Walking Tour & Street Food Tasting: $35
Tours and Activities in Jinja
Here are a few actual costs in Jinja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Jinja And Source Of The Nile River Tour(female Guided): $295
- 1-DAY BEST JINJA & SOURCE OF RIVER NILE TOUR: $220
- 2 days Jinja adventure with white water rafting and tubing: $200
- David's Shared Walking Tour in Jinja with a Local Cultural Meal: $40
- EPIC UGANDA SAFARI ADVENTURE | (2 Adults-1 Child Tier) 5-Day: $3,850
- HIGH-OCTANE ADVENTURES—QUADBIKE, ZIPLINE, RIVER-RAFT & MORE: $2,750
- Half-Day Jinja Walking Tour: Source of Nile & Boat Ride Options: $31
- Jinja 2-Day Trip with boat cruise, Zip lining, Quad Bikes: $492
- 2 Day tour with visit to the Sipi Falls: $397
- Full Day Tour with source of the Nile Boat Cruise: $166
- Guided Walking Tour with Optional Source of the Nile: $31
- UGANDA HORSEBACK — SCENIC LANDSCAPES & ADVENTURES | 8-Days: $3,200
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Jinja $14
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 Jinja, we can see that Jinja 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 Jinja would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jinja 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 Jinja Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Jinja?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Jinja. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Jinja, 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.