A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mombasa vs. Kampala for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mombasa or Kampala?

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 Kampala. 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 Kampala?

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.

Kampala

Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.


Which place is cheaper, Kampala or Mombasa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $64, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $71. 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 Kampala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mombasa $26
    Kampala $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mombasa $52
    Kampala $120
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Kampala

Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Kampala? 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.

Hotels in Mombasa


Hotels in Kampala


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 Kampala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Kampala $2.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa

Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
  • DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
  • Mombasa Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $35
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $76
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $107
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $76
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Nyali, Bamburi & Shanzu: $34
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Vipingo and Kilifi: $88
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Malindi Hotels: $134
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $89
  • Mombasa Airport Transfers: $62

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $4.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $130
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $130
  • Kampala Entebbe Airport Transfer: $45
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
  • From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
  • From Entebbe: 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari with Transfers: $1,850
  • Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Kampala?

Prices for flights to both Kampala 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mombasa $24
    Kampala $8.55

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mombasa

For Mombasa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Fort Jesus Sound and Light Show Tour With Dinner.: $41
  • Special African Dinner: $46
  • Fort Jesus Light and music Night Shows With Dinner.: $47
  • Swahili food Cooking Class Experience: $47
  • Momobasa: Food tour,Swahili culture,spice market experience: $130

Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.

  • Kampala Food Tour (KWT): $26
  • Like a local cooking Tours: $26
  • Cooking Class for Typical Ugandan Food in Kampala: $31
  • Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
  • Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
  • Cooking Class Tour Kampala.: $60
  • Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Kampala -

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: $20
  • Rent A Local Guide For Mombasa Tour Experience.: $23
  • Private Canoe Tour to Experience the Gorgeous Kongo River Estuary: $25
  • 2 hour Authentic Cultual Experience: $25
  • Historical Guided city tour. Fort Jesus, old town.: $25
  • Mombasa Fun and hidden Gems tour: $26
  • Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $28
  • The Blue Radio Experience in Mombasa!: $30
  • Mombasa Old Town Walking Tour: $30
  • Mombasa:Guided city tour,beach and Fort Jesus Museum: $30
  • Mombasa City: Swahili Cuisines Rich Culinary Heritage Tour.: $33

Tours and Activities in Kampala

Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Discover the Magic of Uganda's Equator on a 1-Day Tour: $136
  • Equator Tour: $100
  • 1 -One Day Jinja Source of River Nile Tour Experience : $150
  • 1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Lake Victoria: $129
  • 1 Day Jinja tour special with Lunch: $170
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $120
  • 1 Day Kampala city tour: $162
  • 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $290
  • 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $500
  • 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
  • 1 day Mabamba (Shoebill) bird watching tour - Shoebill & canoe tour: $205

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mombasa $8.85
    Kampala -

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
  • Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
  • Kampala Bar Crawl, Beer Tasting and Street Food (6 Hours): $71


When comparing the travel costs between Mombasa and Kampala, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Kampala Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Kampala?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 69% larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Kampala, 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.

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