Which place is cheaper, Johannesburg or Mombasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mombasa or Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg. 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 Johannesburg?
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.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, and The Best Eco Tours in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $65Johannesburg $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $65, while the average daily cost in Johannesburg is $94. 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 Johannesburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $27Johannesburg $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $54Johannesburg $108
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Johannesburg
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Johannesburg? 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 Johannesburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Johannesburg $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Mombasa: $20
- Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Mombasa Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa Port: $33
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $33
- Private Luxury Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport: $33
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Nyali, Bamburi & Shanzu: $33
- Private Transfer: Mombasa SGR Train Station to Nyali/Bamburi: $37
- Mombasa Town: Private Airport Transfer to Hotel and AirBnB: $40
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $44
- Private One-Way Mombasa Airport Transfer: $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:
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Taxi Ride$3.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
- Suncity Transfer: $183
- Private executive transfer to sun city or airport/hotels : $115
- Private Van Airport Transfers : Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria: $71
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Sedan Car: $61
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $72
- Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Car: $103
- Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $72
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg To Pilanesberg: $214
- Private Transfer from Johannesburg O.R.Tambo Airport(JNB) to Johannesburg hotels: $115
- Private Transfer JNB Airport to Johannesburg Pretoria or SunCity by Business Car: $76
- Private Land Rover transfer to Sun City from Johannesburg and PTA: $190
- Private Arrival Transfer: Johannesburg Airport to Mpumalanga: $273
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Johannesburg?
Prices for flights to both Johannesburg 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 $24Johannesburg $17
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 Johannesburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
- Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $39
- Taste of Africa Food Tour: $49
- A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
- Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $96
- Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $186
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Johannesburg $21
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.: $38
Tours and Activities in Johannesburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
- Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $219
- (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $29
- 10 Days Overland Tour-Johannesburg and Cape Town: $2,589
- 15 Days Johannesburg, Kruger National Park – Cape Town Tour: $3,884
- 3 Day Kruger National Park Tour from Johannesburg: $823
- 3 Days 2 Nights Panorama Tour & Kruger National park Safari: $797
- 3 Days Big 5 Kruger National Park Tour from Johannesburg: $1,176
- 4-Day Private Tour Johannesburg and Pretoria - See everything in 4 days : $209
- 4-Days Overnight Experience in The Panorama Route & Safari: $1,663
- 6 Days Johannesburg and Kruger National Park Tour: $1,553
- 6 Days of The Best of Johannesburg Experience: $932
- 6 Hours Ultimate Pilanesberg Open Vehicle Day Tour : $187
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.99Johannesburg $4.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.02
- Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $111
- Experience Johannesburg Wine Tour Views and Luxury: $225
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Johannesburg, we can see that Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Johannesburg, 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.