Which place is cheaper, Meknes or Mombasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mombasa or Meknes?
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 Meknes. 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 Meknes?
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.
Meknes
So you love a bustling nightlife with fine restaurants and meaningful historical buildings, but you hate all the tourists. Well, it maybe time to visit Meknes, Morocco. Since most travelers head straight to Fez, that leaves Meknes relatively untouched and remains free of the usual hassles that plague other major destinations.
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 Morocco, and The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $65Meknes $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $65, while the average daily cost in Meknes is $46. 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 Meknes in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $27Meknes $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $54Meknes $52
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Meknes
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Meknes? 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 Meknes Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Meknes $1.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Malindi Hotels: $131
- Diani Airport – Kenya Coast Beach Hotel Transfers: $131
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Airport Transfers : $129
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $105
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $87
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Vipingo and Kilifi: $86
- Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
- Airport Transfer from Mombasa Moi International Airport(MBA): $75
- Airport Transfers to Watamu and Malindi : $75
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $74
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Meknes?
Prices for flights to both Meknes 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 $24Meknes $14
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
Typical Food Prices in Meknes
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Meknes:
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Popcorn$0.20
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Spices$2.49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Meknes
For Meknes, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fes Medina :Grocery shopping & cooking Class with Fatima: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Meknes $3.55
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day Private Mombasa Tour: $170
- Mombasa Getaway with Haller Park Tours: $130
- Private Tour of Tsavo East National Park from Mombasa: $270
- The Best Of Mombasa Walking Tour: $208
- 1 Day Malindi day Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $194
- Aquatic experiences at the coastal of Mombasa-Nyali.: $90
- Day Tour To Mombasa: $145
- Day Tour to Tsavo East National Park from Mombasa: $268
- Day tour to Tsavo east national park from Mombasa: $279
- Dolphin tour and snorkeling in kisite marine park / wasini island: $70
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $30
- Full Day Mombasa Excursion Tour : $133
Tours and Activities in Meknes
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Meknes.
- Fes Volubilis Tour: $45
- From Fez: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes Full Day Tour: $17
- From Rabat: Volubilis and Meknes Full-day Tour: $258
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.99Meknes $2.62
Typical Alcohol Prices in Meknes
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Meknes:
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Bottle of Wine$4.58
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Meknes, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Meknes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Meknes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Meknes 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 Mombasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mombasa than you might in Meknes.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Meknes Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Meknes?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Meknes. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Meknes, 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 Meknes?
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 Meknes in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Meknes. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Meknes attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Meknes. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Meknes receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Meknes this time of the year. In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives less sunshine than Meknes during summer. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Meknes receives 330 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Mombasa is around the same temperature as Meknes. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mombasa in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Meknes averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Meknes 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Meknes in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Meknes. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Meknes throughout the year.
Mombasa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa usually gets more rain in October than Meknes. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Meknes receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Meknes. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the autumn, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Meknes. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Meknes receives 227 hours of full sun.
In October, Mombasa is generally a little warmer than Meknes. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 26°C (79°F), and Meknes fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Meknes 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Meknes in the Winter?
Both Meknes 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 Meknes because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Meknes. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Meknes receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Meknes during winter. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Meknes receives 165 hours of full sun in the winter.
Mombasa is much warmer than Meknes in the winter. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Meknes fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Meknes 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Meknes in the Spring?
Both Meknes 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 Meknes year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually gets more rain in April than Meknes. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Meknes receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Meknes, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the spring, Mombasa often gets less sunshine than Meknes. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Meknes receives 256 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Mombasa is much warmer than Meknes. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mombasa in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Meknes averages at about 16°C (60°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Meknes 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Meknes and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Meknes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 109 mm (4.3 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.