Which place is cheaper, Kampala or Mombasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
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.
-
Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesKampala Prices
Uganda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Kampala $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Kampala is $76. 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 personMombasa $26Kampala $59
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Kampala $118
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.
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 $18Kampala $2.50
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 Mombasa Moi Int Airport Transfer: $160
- Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
- From Mombasa Airport Diani Transfer in a Minivan 5 Pax: $75
- Moi International Airport MBA Transfers: $36
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $73
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $36
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $113
- Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $42
- Private Transfer from Mombasa: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
-
Taxi around town$4.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Uganda Equator Line tour in Kayabwe with Lunch & transfers: $140
- The best Half day Kampala City Tour with Transfers: $110
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $79
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $79
- Private Entebbe Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-off 24/7: $80
- Private Airport & In-Country Transfers in Central Uganda: $60
- Full-Day Kampala City Highlights Tour, Lunch & private Transfers: $156
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $55
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
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 dayMombasa $41Kampala $15
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
- Sultan's Spoon Mombasa Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Mombasa Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Swahili Cooking Class Experience with a Local Chef: $65
- Diani Beach Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $71
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $136
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
-
Lunch for 2$1.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Private Ugandan Food Cooking Class and Culture Experience: $55
- Kampala Kitchens Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $59
- Kampala Local Cooking Experience: $80
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $119
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Kampala -
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $24
- Mombasa Guided City Tour Experience: $25
- Mombasa walking tour: $30
- Mombasa city tour: $30
- Fort Jesus & Mombasa Old Town Walking CityTour: $38
- Private Mombasa Food & Sightseeing Tour: $39
- Mombasa City Tour: $40
- Private Mombasa City Tour Watamu Diani and Malindi: $40
- Half day city tour of mombasa: $40
- Half day Mombasa City Tour: $45
- Haller Park Tour observing hippos, giraffes, birds, monkeys, crocs & others: $45
- Private Walking Tour in Old Town: $45
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Best of Entebbe City Guided Walking Tour: $30
- 1 Day Jinja & Source of the Nile River tour (female guided): $230
- 1 Day Jinja source of the Nile tour: $290
- 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
- 1 Day Shoebill Stork and Birding Experience: $190
- 1 Day Tour of Jinja and Source of the Nile: $180
- 1 Day Uganda Equator Tour From Kampala To Kayabwe: $200
- 1 day Uganda Equator Experience: $200
- 1 day kampala tour: $205
- 1-Day Jinja & River Nile Tour(Women-Guided-Experience): $179
- 1/2 Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tour: $130
- 2-Hours Village Walk and Lake Victoria cruise from Kampala: $35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Kampala -
When comparing the travel costs between Mombasa and Kampala, we can see that Mombasa 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.
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.