Which place is cheaper, Rome 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 Rome?
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 Rome. 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 Rome?
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.
Rome
Rome is the kind of city that refuses to stay in the past, even though history is everywhere you look. Ancient ruins rise beside buzzing cafes, scooters zip past Renaissance palaces, and quiet cobblestone lanes suddenly open onto grand piazzas filled with fountains, churches, and street performers. It is a city of layers: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, neighborhood trattorias, stylish boutiques, and late-night gelato walks all woven together into one unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the art, the food, the history, or the simple pleasure of wandering without a plan, Rome has a way of making every day feel like a discovery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesRome Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Rome $236
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Rome is $236. 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 Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Rome $103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Rome $206
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Rome
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Rome? 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 Rome Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Rome $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
- From Mombasa Airport Diani Transfer in a Minivan 5 Pax: $75
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $72
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $36
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $111
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $93
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $42
- Private Transfer from Mombasa: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)$2.28
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Train to the Airport$17
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Taxi to Airport$51
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- VIP Experience Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome: $110
- Transfers from Fiumicino airport: $81
- Transfers Ciampino airport To Rome: $49
- Transfer to Fiumicino/Ciampino Airport from Rome city center: $55
- Transfer service from Fiumicino Airport to Rome 4 - 8 passengers: $151
- Transfer from/to train stations in Rome 1 - 3 passengers: $81
- Transfer from the Port of Civitavecchia to Rome: $169
- Transfer from Rome to the Rome Airports: $65
- Transfer from Rome to the Port of Civitavecchia: $169
- Transfer from Rome to the Beverello pier (Naples): $294
- Transfer from Rome to MagicLand: $123
- Transfer from Rome to Fiumicino Airport & viceversa: $116
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Rome?
Prices for flights to both Rome 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 $41Rome $95
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 Street Food Tour: $55
- Swahili Cooking Class Experience with a Local Chef: $65
- Diani Beach Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $70
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $135
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$16
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.41
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Cafe e doce$4.56
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Pizza (Fast Food)$3.02
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$36
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Cheese and bread$11
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Espresso$2.28
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Dinner$66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Rome Gnocchi and Tiramisu Cooking Class: $40
- Rome Food Tour for Breakfast Lovers: $41
- Pizza & Tiramisu or Gelato Class with Flowing Fine Wine: $41
- Roman Dinner after History Tour: An Epic Journey Through Time: $44
- Pizza Cooking Class in Rome - Near Piazza Navona: $45
- Milan Street Food Tour and City Guided Sightseeing: $45
- Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Prosecco in Rome: $45
- Rome Early Morning Breakfast and Sightseeing Food Tour: $45
- Fettuccine Pasta Cooking Class in Rome City Center: $46
- Cappuccino, Moka and Tiramisù Cooking Class in Central Rome: $47
- Pesto and Pasta Cooking Class in Rome City Center: $48
- The Original Fettuccine & Tiramisu Cooking Class in Rome: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Rome $41
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 city tour: $30
- Mombasa walking tour: $30
- Elky Diani Glass Bottom Tour to Robinson Island: $35
- Mombasa old town Walking Tour and Fort Jesus: $38
- Private Mombasa Food & Sightseeing Tour: $39
- Walking Tour Through Old Town Mombasa and Fort Jesus: $40
- Mombasa City Tour: $40
- Half day city tour of mombasa: $40
- Private Mombasa City Tour Watamu Diani and Malindi: $40
- Haller Park Tour observing hippos, giraffes, birds, monkeys, crocs & others: $45
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)$79
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$38
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Roma Pass$34
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$23
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Segway Tour$86
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- " Private pantheon tour: Explore Rome's Divine masterpiece": $103
- 1 Day Rome Tour from Civitavecchia for Cruise Passengers: $89
- 1 Hour Pantheon Tour: A Time Travel Experience in Rome + Ebook: $110
- 1 hour Little Ancient Tour of Rome by Mini Vintage Cabriolet with Cappuccino: $162
- 1,5 H Ancient Rome Tour on a Golf Cart: $80
- 1,5H Historical City Center Tour on a Golf Cart at Rome: $80
- 2-Hour Private Shopping Tour in Rome with Personal Stylist - Personal Shopper: $116
- 2-Hour Walking Tour in Rome's Enchanting Jewish Ghetto: $93
- 2.5 Hours Private Tour in Rome on a Vintage Fiat 500 open cabrio: $184
- 2h Xmas Lights Panoramic Vespa Sidecar Tour: $115
- 2h30 Tour of Rome Cathedral and Holy Stairs: $110
- 3 Hour Instagram Private Tour in Rome with Pickup: $174
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.84Rome $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine$7.41
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Pint of Beer$7.23
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Beer$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $22
- Unique Wine Tasting in Enoteca in Rome San Pietro Area: $32
- Cabaret and Burlesque Show: $35
- Rome’s Exclusive Wine Tasting: Sip Near the Colosseum!: $38
- Winery Tour, Wine Tasting near Rome with Optional Lunch: $45
- Rome Wine Tasting in Monte dei Cocci | Authentic Lazio Wines: $45
- Wine Tasting in Trastevere with Food and Gelato: $49
- Frascati Wine Tasting Experience with Food Pairing: $52
- Experience Rome Exclusive Wine Tasting in City Center: $56
- Burlesque lessons with the best Italian stars: $58
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $64
- Rome Bar Crawl: Interactive Night Tour with Games and Karaoke: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome is in Europe, 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Rome?
Rome has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Rome, 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 Rome?
Rome 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 Rome in the Summer?
Both Rome 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. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rome because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Mombasa is around the same temperature as Rome. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mombasa in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Rome averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In Rome, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the summer, Mombasa often gets less sunshine than Rome. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun.
Mombasa usually gets more rain in July than Rome. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Rome 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Rome in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Rome. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
In October, Mombasa is generally much warmer than Rome. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 26°C (79°F), and Rome fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Rome during autumn. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Mombasa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mombasa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rome. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Rome 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Rome in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Rome. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Mombasa is much warmer than Rome in the winter. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the winter, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Rome. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun.
Mombasa usually gets less rain in January than Rome. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Rome 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Rome in the Spring?
Both Rome and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Rome in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Mombasa is much warmer than Rome. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mombasa in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Rome averages at about 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Rome. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Rome during spring. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Mombasa. In April, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Rome. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Rome 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Rome and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Rome | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.