Which place is cheaper, Pretoria 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 Pretoria?
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 Pretoria. 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 Pretoria?
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.
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesPretoria Prices
South Africa Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Pretoria $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Pretoria is $67. 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 Pretoria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Pretoria $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Pretoria $56
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Pretoria
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Pretoria? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Pretoria $13
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
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA): $56
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa Port: $56
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $56
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $34
- Private Transfer from Mombasa: $22
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $34
- Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
- Private Day Tour of Mombasa City with Transfers: $104
- Private Arrival Transfer in Mombasa: $60
- Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sun City Private Transfer: $246
- Private Transfer from JHB Airport to Hotels and Around Sandton: $40
- Private Oneway Transfer from Johannesburg to Johannesburg Airport: $34
- Private Airport Transfers in Johannesburg: $61
- Half-Day City Tour with Hotel Transfer: $111
- Full-Day Pretoria City Tour with Guide and Transfers: $120
- Dinokeng Safari with Transfer: $154
- Airport transfers,door to door shuttle: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Pretoria?
Prices for flights to both Pretoria 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 $41Pretoria $28
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 Street Food Tour: $55
- Diani Beach Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $69
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $133
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Feisty Food Tour: $84
- Johannesburg: Carnivore Restaurant Dinner with Transfers: $123
- Lesedi Cultural Experience + Lunch or Dinner: $132
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Pretoria $16
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Group tour to Tsavo East National Park with Buffet Lunch: $160
- 1 Day Malindi day Tour (minimum 2 Pax): $194
- 1 Day Wasini Dolphin Tour From Diani Beach: $98
- 1 Day Wasini Snorkelling Tour: $195
- 4 Hours Guided Mombasa City Tour: $45
- Chale Island Kenya Tour in 4WD Vehicle: $295
- Day Tour Experience to Tsavo East National Park: $190
- Day Tour To Shimba Hill Reserve From Mombasa: $270
- Diani Beach Village Tour and Wildlife Park Day Trip: $218
- Elky Diani Glass Bottom Tour to Robinson Island: $35
- Fort Jesus & Mombasa Old Town Walking CityTour: $38
- Full Day Group Joining Tour In Mombasa From Kilindin Harbour Port: $140
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1Day Pilanesburg Big 5 safari experience: $75
- 2 Days Historical Cultural and Sightseeing Tour in Johannesburg: $238
- 2-Day Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria Guided Tour: $196
- 3 tours/ cradle human kind caves and Lesedi Cultural village: $162
- 3-Day Private Tour Johannesburg - See everything: $243
- Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg: $140
- Africa Fun Tours: $109
- Aha Lesedi Cultural Village tour: $177
- Apartheid History of South Africa (Full day Experience with lunch: $149
- Apartheid Museum Guided Tour: $62
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg from Pretoria, every FRIDAY afternoon: $72
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $72
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.80Pretoria $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Pretoria, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Pretoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Pretoria?
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Pretoria, 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.
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.