Which place is cheaper, Phuket 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 Phuket?
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 Phuket. 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 Phuket?
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.
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesPhuket Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Phuket $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Phuket is $136. 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 Phuket in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Phuket $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Phuket $126
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Phuket
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Phuket? 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 Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Phuket $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Diani Mombasa Moi Int Airport Transfer: $160
- Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- From Mombasa Airport: Diani transfer in a minivan (5 pax): $75
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $73
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $37
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $81
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Malindi Hotels: $142
- Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Private Arrival Transfer in Mombasa: $60
- Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$9.21
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Ziplines 28 platforms with Free Transfer RoundTrips: $79
- Zipline and ATV Skyline Adventure Phuket Include Pickup Transfer: $42
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NATAI BEACH: $56
- Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak Hotel: $79
- TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PHUKET TOWN (SHA Plus): $34
- TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to LAGUNA Beach Area (SHA Plus): $28
- TAXI AIRPORT TRANSFER to RASSADA PIER: $47
- Speedboat Transfer From Phuket To Koh Yao Yai/ Koh Yao Noi: $47
- Sky Rock Khao Lak Jungle Zipline Adventure with Transfer: $56
- Simon Cabaret Phuket with Round Trip Share Transfer: $26
- Similan Islands One day Tour All Exclusive (Transfer Khao Lak): $99
- Similan Islands One Day Tour From Phuket Include Lunch & Pickup Transfer: $97
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Phuket?
Prices for flights to both Phuket 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 $41Phuket $42
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
- Mombasa Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Swahili Cooking Class Experience with a Local Chef: $65
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $137
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$8.87
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.22
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.76
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Bananas$0.77
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Pizza (for Two)$9.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- One Day Experience Cooking at Phuket Patong Thailand: $28
- Phuket City Tour with Sunset and Thai Cooking: $49
- Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
- 3-Hour Authentic Thai Cooking Experience: $53
- Phuket Express Thai Cooking Course with Authentic Recipes: $53
- Simply Thai Cooking Experience: $56
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class by Suuko Wellness Spa: $56
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $56
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $58
- Baba Tastes Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Phuket Coral Island and Sunset Dinner by Luxury Catamaran: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Phuket $48
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mombasa Guided City Tour Experience: $25
- Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $28
- Tusks, Fort Jesus, Old Town, Beach and City Tour: $30
- Mombasa city tour: $30
- Kongo River Sunset Experience in Canoe: $32
- Mombasa walking tour: $35
- Mombasa old town Walking Tour and Fort Jesus: $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
- Quasar Tours and Safaris: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$28
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$77
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Thai Oil Massage$20
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Surfboard Rental$9.21
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Hour Phuket ATV on Tour + Big Buddha: $44
- 1-Hour Quad Bike ATV Ride – Ultimate Adventure: $60
- 12 Islands Overnight Tour: $203
- 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $72
- 3 Fun Dives King Cruiser Wreck and Koh DokMai for Certified diver: $170
- 3 Hour Zipline Adventure Park Experience: 65 Platforms: $106
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- 3-Island Speedboat Tour: Racha Noi, Racha Yai & Maiton: $113
- 4 Element Day with Zipline Adventure Expedition: $78
- 4 Hours Jet Ski Experience Hopping To 9 Islands in Phuket: $261
- 4 Hours and 50km Jet Ski Tour to 6 Phuket Islands: $246
- 4 Waters Eco Adventure from Phuket Including Lunch: $155
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Phuket $7.15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$6.14
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Beer$2.61
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Rooftop, Bars, GoGo & 3 Clubs with Shots: $19
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $29
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $53
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $88
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $134
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple: $172
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Phuket, we can see that Phuket 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 Phuket 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket 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 Phuket Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Phuket?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Phuket, 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 Phuket?
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 Phuket in the Summer?
Both Phuket and Mombasa during the summer 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 Phuket year-round.
Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mombasa usually gets less rain in July than Phuket. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the summer, Mombasa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Phuket. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 206 hours of full sun.
Mombasa is cooler than Phuket in the summer. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Phuket in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Phuket. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Phuket. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Phuket during autumn. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Mombasa is around the same temperature as Phuket. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mombasa in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Phuket averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Phuket 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Phuket in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Phuket. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Mombasa usually gets more rain in January than Phuket. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the winter, Mombasa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Phuket. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 287 hours of full sun.
In January, Mombasa is generally around the same temperature as Phuket. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Phuket in the Spring?
Both Phuket and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Phuket is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. It's quite rainy in Mombasa. In April, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Phuket. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Phuket. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives less sunshine than Phuket during spring. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
Mombasa is around the same temperature as Phuket in the spring. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Phuket fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Phuket 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Phuket and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Phuket | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.