A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mombasa vs. Salta for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mombasa or Salta?

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 Salta. 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 Salta?

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.

Salta

Located in the heart of the famous Northwest region of Argentina, at 1200m of elevation and at the foot of the Cerro San Bernardo, Salta is the largest city of the region and perhaps the most beautiful colonial city of Argentina. Founded in 1582 by the Spanish, Salta was an important stop for merchants who followed the usual trade road through Bolivia and Peru. Argentines call this city nestled in the foothills of the Andes and surrounded by mountains, of just over half a million inhabitants, Salta La Linda (Salta the Beautiful) and it's easy to see why. Young and traditional at the same time, Salta and its renowned museums, plaza side cafes and live musica folklorica of its bustling penas, is a sophisticated and lively city day and night.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Salta or Mombasa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Salta is $43. 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 Salta in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mombasa $26
    Salta $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mombasa $52
    Salta $60
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Salta

Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Salta? 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.

Hotels in Mombasa


Hotels in Salta


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Salta $3.03

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 Salta

Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Salta Airport: $8.99
  • Saver Combo: Cafayate, Cachi, Salt Fields, Transfers and Walking: $197
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $10
  • Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $37
  • Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $180
  • Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
  • Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $16
  • Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $60
  • Private Transfer from Salta Airport: $20
  • Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
  • From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
  • From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88

Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Salta?

Prices for flights to both Salta 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mombasa $41
    Salta $5.24

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Salta $26

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 Salta

For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
  • 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $95
  • Adventure in the Great Salt Flats in the White Desert: $55
  • Best of Guided City Tour: $52
  • Cachi and Salinas Grandes: 2-Day Tour – Hills and Incredible Landscapes: $104
  • Cachi: Scenic Route and Local Experience from Salta: $29
  • Cafayate, Vineyards and Calchaquies Valleys Tour from Salta: $54
  • City Tour Salta and San Lorenzo: $33
  • City Tour Salta and San Lorenzo: $35
  • Colorful mountains and endless salt: Salinas + Purmamarca tour: $33
  • Experience an authentic Salta peña with local musicians: $49
  • From Salta 3 Day Tour to Cafayate Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $95

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mombasa $8.80
    Salta $5.33

Sample the Local Flavors in Salta

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:

  • Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta: $29
  • Cafayate: Full-day winery tour and wine tasting: $29
  • From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting: $30
  • From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $40
  • Half Day Wine Tasting in Salta: $146


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Salta, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Salta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mombasa is in Africa and Salta is in South America, 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 Salta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salta 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 Salta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Salta?

Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 56% larger than the population of Salta. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Salta, 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.