Which place is cheaper, Manila 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 Manila?
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 Manila. 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 Manila?
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.
Manila
A sprawling metropolis that is home to more than 12 million people, Manila is one huge, misunderstood concrete jungle, full of diverse cultures, traffic, pollution, restaurants, shopping malls, noise and nightlife. If you're looking to soak in culture and feel the vibe of a place rather than seeking a city that specifically caters to tourists, Manila is the place to be. Capital of the Philippines, Manila is also the center for education, business, and transportation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesManila Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Manila $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Manila is $99. 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 Manila in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Manila $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Manila $100
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Manila
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Manila? 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 Manila Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Manila $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Safe Private Airport Transfer in Mombasa: $19
- Private Transfer from Mombasa: $22
- Transfer From Mombasa (Moi Airport/SGR) To Diani: $35
- Moi International Airport MBA Transfers: $36
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $36
- 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 City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $42
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa Port: $58
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City Hotels to Mombasa Cruise Port: $58
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $58
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA): $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Transfers from Manila, Makati, Taguig and Pasay Hotel to Airport: $50
- Safe and secure Airport Transfer Best in Manila: $216
- Quality Safe and Reliable Manila Airport Transfers: $49
- Private Transfer from Manila Cruise Port to Manila Airport (MNL): $28
- Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $28
- Private One-way Transfer From Manila To Manila Airport: $23
- Private Departure Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Airport Transfer: Metro Manila → NAIA Airport (MNL): $30
- NAIA Airport Transfer to/from anywhere in Metro Manila: $31
- MNL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $13
- Amazing Taal Volcano Island Boat Tour with Transfers: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Manila?
Prices for flights to both Manila 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 $41Manila $29
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manila
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Manila.
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $51
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $51
- Ugbo Manila Street Food Tour with Tuktuk Ride: $60
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $62
- Guided Food Tour of Binondo with Tastings: $65
- Street Food tour & Local Jeepney, Tuktuk Ride: $66
- Binondo Chinatown Food Tour with Free Food Samples: $70
- Manila Chinatown Food Tour with Local Guide: $71
- Intramuros and Chinatown Food Tour with Food Samples: $80
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $105
- A taste of Manila's History & Filipino Culture with Buffet Dinner: $175
- Subic: Sunset Dinner Yacht Cruise from Manila & Clark: $212
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Manila $18
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 Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- (Excursion) Day tour in Manila: $258
- A Night in Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $23
- Amazing Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Tour 2in1: $125
- Antipolo Day Tour with Cloud 9 and Pinto Art Museum: $80
- BAGUIO CITY DAY TOUR (FROM MANILA): $357
- BANAUE:BATAD Rice Terraces with Sagada 4D3N PRIVATE TOUR: $7,130
- Banaue-Hapao Rice Terraces (Car Rental W/ Manila Tourist Driver): $300
- Cavite Leisure And Farm Tour: $170
- Club Crawl and Party Experience at BGC: $71
- Discover Tagaytay's Countryside: Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $68
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $39
- Experience Manila's Heritage: Intramuros & More in Half a Day!: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Manila $9.21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Manila, we can see that Manila 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 Manila 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 Manila would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manila 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 Manila Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Manila?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Manila, 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 Manila?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Mombasa or Manila in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Manila. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Manila. Mombasa usually gets less rain in July than Manila. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Manila receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Mombasa is cooler than Manila. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mombasa in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Manila averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Manila 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Manila in the Autumn?
Both Manila and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Manila because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manila. It's quite rainy in Mombasa. In October, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Manila. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Manila receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Mombasa is generally around the same temperature as Manila. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 26°C (79°F), and Manila fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Manila 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Manila in the Winter?
Both Manila and Mombasa during the winter 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 Manila year-round.
Mombasa usually gets more rain in January than Manila. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Manila receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Mombasa is a little warmer than Manila in the winter. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Manila fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Manila 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Manila in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Manila. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Mombasa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Manila. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Manila receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Mombasa is around the same temperature as Manila. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mombasa in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Manila averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Manila 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manila and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Manila | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 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.