Which place is cheaper, Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi?
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 Koh Phi Phi. 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 Koh Phi Phi?
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.
Koh Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
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 Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesKoh Phi Phi Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $80Koh Phi Phi $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $80, while the average daily cost in Koh Phi Phi is $95. 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 Koh Phi Phi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Koh Phi Phi $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Koh Phi Phi $100
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Koh Phi Phi
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Koh Phi Phi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Koh Phi Phi $7.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Airport Transfers : $129
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $114
- Private Day Tour of Mombasa City with Transfers: $104
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $95
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $81
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City Hotels to Mombasa Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $79
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $74
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $43
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
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Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)$17
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Longboat Taxi$3.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi
Also for Koh Phi Phi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $29
- Easy Island Transfer from Phi Phi Island to Koh Tao: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Koh Phi Phi?
Prices for flights to both Koh Phi Phi 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 $41Koh Phi Phi $23
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
Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
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Crepe$1.88
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Sit Down Lunch$11
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Casual Lunch$6.59
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Coconut Donut$0.31
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Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)$13
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Sit Down Dinner$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- International Dinner & Cabaret Show - Ala Carte Package: $22
- International Dinner & Cabaret Show - Set Menu Package: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Koh Phi Phi $52
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mombasa Getaway with Haller Park Tours: $150
- The Best Of Mombasa Walking Tour: $227
- Bus Tickets from Mombasa to Nairobi: $55
- Day Tour To Tsavo East National Park: $240
- Day Tour to Tsavo East National Park from Mombasa or Diani: $278
- Day tour to Shimba hills National Reserve from Mombasa/Diani: $336
- Diani: Full-day Guided Mombasa City Tour from Diani: $110
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $35
- Full Day Group Joining Tour of Mombasa : $107
- Full Day Mombasa Excursion Tour : $110
- Full day tour in Mombasa: $93
- Full-Day Tour of Mombasa: $110
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental$9.42
Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.
- Activities In & Around Phuket: Full Day Customizable Tour : $110
- 6 Hours Private Tour Around Phi Phi Islands From Phi Phi: $184
- Banana Beach Premium: Shared Tour: $137
- Early Bird Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $65
- Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $15
- Half Day Rainforest and Waterfall Tour in Thailand: $99
- Half Day Tour Around Phi Phi Islands By Private Longtail Boat From Phi Phi: $110
- Half-Day Morning Bamboo Island Tour from Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $25
- Half-Day Phi Phi Island Longtail Boat Tour with Maya Bay Visit: $19
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $19
- Maya Bay Sleep aboard Tour From Phi Phi: $143
- Phi Phi 7 Islands Full-Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.79Koh Phi Phi $6.51
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
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Mojito Bucket$16
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Banana Daiquiri$6.28
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Koh Phi Phi is more expensive. And not only is Mombasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mombasa is in Africa and Koh Phi Phi 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 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 Koh Phi Phi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Koh Phi Phi?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 800 times larger than the population of Koh Phi Phi. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Koh Phi Phi, 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.
When is the best time to visit Mombasa or Koh Phi Phi?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Mombasa or Koh Phi Phi in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Koh Phi Phi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Phi Phi receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Phi Phi this time of the year. In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Phi Phi during summer. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
Mombasa is cooler than Koh Phi Phi in the summer. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Koh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Koh Phi Phi in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Koh Phi Phi. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Koh Phi Phi is the dry season. May to November in Koh Phi Phi is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. Mombasa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa usually gets less rain in October than Koh Phi Phi. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the autumn, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Mombasa is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mombasa in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Koh Phi Phi 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Koh Phi Phi in the Winter?
Both Koh Phi Phi and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Phi Phi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Phi Phi is December to March. In January, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Koh Phi Phi. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Koh Phi Phi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Phi Phi during winter. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Mombasa is generally around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Koh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Koh Phi Phi in the Spring?
Both Koh Phi Phi and Mombasa during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mombasa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Phi Phi year-round.
May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi. Koh Phi Phi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually gets more rain in April than Koh Phi Phi. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Phi Phi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the spring, Mombasa often gets less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 249 hours of full sun.
Mombasa is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi in the spring. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Koh Phi Phi 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Phi Phi and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Koh Phi Phi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
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.