Which place is cheaper, Melbourne 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 Melbourne?
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 Melbourne. 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 Melbourne?
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.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesMelbourne Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $80Melbourne $195
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $80, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $195. 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 Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Melbourne $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Melbourne $238
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Melbourne $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Mombasa (Moi Airport/SGR) To Diani: $35
- Safe Private Airport Transfer in Mombasa: $19
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $79
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $43
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City Hotels to Mombasa Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $43
- Private Day Tour of Mombasa City with Transfers: $104
- Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Airport Transfers : $129
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $95
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $81
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$10
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Tram Ride$2.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $377
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $69
- Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to City Centre/St Kilda/Hawthorne: $45
- Sydney Airport Transfer to Sydney CBD/ Other Suburbs: $96
- Starways Chauffeur - Airport Transfer & Chauffeurs in Melbourne: $91
- Private Transfer from Melbourne hotels to Melbourne Cruise Port: $61
- Private Transfer from Melbourne Port to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $81
- Private Transfer Melbourne Airport: $101
- Private Melbourne Airport Transfer to Melbourne CBD: $87
- Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $80
- Private Arrival Transfer: Melbourne Airports to Hotel: $87
- Private Airport Transfer in Melbourne: $101
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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 $41Melbourne $53
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 Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.62
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Pizza$4.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Multicultural Markets Food Tour – Melbourne’s Global Tastes: $51
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $53
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $81
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Carlton a Little Italy Dinner Tour: $93
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Melbourne $27
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
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- English Melbourne Walking Tour: $17
- Experience Yarra Valley: A Tailored private Wine Journey: $269
- MCG and Aussie Rules Football Tour: $57
- Melbourne Laneways and Galleries Impressionist Art Walking Tour: $84
- 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $147
- 1.5Hr Yarra River Crown Flames and City Lights Cruise: $317
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $843
- 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $67
- 3 Day Combo: Great Ocean Road, Penguin Parade and FREE City Tour: $225
- 3.5 Hours Group tour Melbourne trouble-makers tour: $44
- 4D3N Best Bits Victoria Sightseeing Tour: $992
- 5 Days 4 Nights: Melbourne Package tour: $1,323
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.79Melbourne $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Christmas Bar Crawl: $15
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $19
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $24
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- Laid back, Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Cider, Gin, Beer + Choc: $87
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
- Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port Pickup: $114
- Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116
- Small Group Yarra Valley: Redwoods Forest & Premium Wine Tour : $124
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne 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 Melbourne is in Pacific, 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Melbourne, 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 Melbourne?
Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mombasa experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Mombasa or Melbourne in the Summer?
Both Melbourne and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Mombasa is a little warmer than Melbourne in the summer. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Melbourne. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives less sunshine than Melbourne during summer. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Melbournein January. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMombasa 24°C (75°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Melbourne in the Autumn?
Both Melbourne and Mombasa during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mombasa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Melbourne in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Mombasa is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mombasa in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Melbourne averages at about 15°C (60°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the autumn, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Melbournein April. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually gets more rain in October than Melbournein April. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilMombasa 26°C (79°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Melbourne in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Mombasa is generally much warmer than Melbournein July. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during winter. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Mombasa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Melbournein July. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyMombasa 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Melbourne in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Melbourne. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
Mombasa is much warmer than Melbourne in the spring. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the spring, Mombasa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Melbournein October. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun.
Mombasa receives a lot of rain in the spring. Mombasa usually gets more rain in April than Melbournein October. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberMombasa 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.