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

Should you visit Mombasa or Santorini?

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 Santorini. 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 Santorini?

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.

Santorini

Santorini is a volcanic island that is part of the Cyclades group of the Greek Islands. It has some spectacular views, beautiful sunsets, and excellent beaches. As one of the most popular of the Greek Islands to visit, Santorini sees many tourists every year. However, it's for a good reason, as the famous white-washed buildings that spill down the hill, some with blue domes that match the gorgeous color of the water, are set against the beautiful mountainous backdrop of one of the most scenic areas of the Mediterranean. Home to several of these small and scenic towns such as Oia, Kamari, Perissa, and Fira, visitors can explore the large island, enjoy delicious food, swim at the beaches, hike the hills, and sail the blue waters.

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 Greece, and The Best Budget Tours to Greece.


Which place is cheaper, Santorini or Mombasa?

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

  • Mombasa Prices
    Kenya Prices
    Santorini Prices
    Greece Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mombasa $81
    Santorini $286

The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Santorini is $286. 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 Santorini in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mombasa $26
    Santorini $134
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mombasa $52
    Santorini $268
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Santorini

Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Santorini? 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 Santorini


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 Santorini Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Santorini $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa

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

  • Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $111
  • Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
  • Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $93
  • Private Departure Transfer in Mombasa: $80
  • From Mombasa Airport Diani Transfer in a Minivan 5 Pax: $75
  • Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $72
  • Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
  • Private Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA): $57
  • Private Transfer from Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa Port: $57
  • Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $57
  • Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini

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

  • Your Private Luxury Transfers on Santorini: $35
  • VIP taxi transfer: $23
  • VIP Limo Transfers From & To Santorini Port: $87
  • VIP Limo Transfers From & To Santorini Airport: $35
  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santorini HTL-APT(JTR): $39
  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santorini APT-HTL(JTR): $39
  • Transfer to Akrotiri: $45
  • Transfer From or To Santorini Airport Designed By You: $16
  • Shared Transfer: $23
  • Shared Arrival Transfers in Santorini from Airport or Port: $46
  • Private Transfer from Airport/Port: $58
  • Airport or Port One-Way Private Transfer: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Santorini?

Prices for flights to both Santorini 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
    Santorini $110

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santorini

For Santorini, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Farm to Table Food Tour Experience in Santorini: $93
  • Award-Winning Santorini Cooking Class with Greek Chef: $125
  • Cooking Class in Traditional cave house in Santorini!: $128
  • Luxury Santorini Sunset Cruise: Dinner, BBQ, Open Bar, Transfers: $139
  • Sunset Sea Kayak with Light Dinner with Pick-up Option: $139
  • Small Group Cooking Lesson & Wine Tasting at Award-Winning Winery: $162
  • Miss Anna Santorini BAKING Cooking Class: $174
  • Santorini Wine Stories: Sunset Tour with Tasting & Dinner: $201
  • Half-Day Sunset Wine Tasting Tour in Santorini with dinner: $203
  • Caper Starlight Private Dinner: $209
  • Santorini Cooking and Tasting Experience: $232
  • Santorini Private Romantic Tour with Wine Tasting & Dinner: $271

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Santorini $40

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: $110
  • 4 Hours Guided Mombasa City Tour: $45
  • City Tour with Ghalib: $75
  • Diani Beach Village Tour and Wildlife Park Day Trip: $218
  • Diani Beach: Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest Guided Tour: $75
  • Elky Diani Glass Bottom Tour to Robinson Island: $35
  • Elky Shimba Hills and Sheldrick Waterfall Day Tour: $250
  • Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town City Tour: $80
  • Full Day Group Joining Tour In Mombasa From Kilindin Harbour Port: $140
  • Full Day Group Joining Tour in Mombasa from Kilindini Harbour: $149

Tours and Activities in Santorini

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.

  • (5h) Santorini Discovery Private Tour–Oia, Villages & Black Beach: $75
  • *AVOID CABLECAR*Santorini's PrivateLuxuryTours-6Hours-Local Guide: $232
  • *{Santorini Island Highlights Group Tour with Local Guide }*: $75
  • 2-hour Private Wooden E-Bike Tour in Emporio Castle, Santorini: $81
  • 4 Hours Private Santorini Tour Hidden Gems and Caldera Views: $255
  • 4 Hours Private Sightseeing Tour in Santorini: $151
  • 4 hrs PRIVATE island tour and photos, Oia and Blue domes: $157
  • 5 Hour Majestic Santorini Tour Designed for Cruise Passengers: $64
  • 5 Hour Mini-Group Santorini Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $85
  • 6-Hour Private Custom Santorini Tour-A Full Experience Of The Island.: $238
  • ALL-INCLUSIVE: Santorini Caldera Cruise with Greek Meal & Drinks: $174
  • ATV Heart of Santorini Tour: $177

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mombasa $8.84
    Santorini $28

Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini

Also in Santorini, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Santorini Ftelos Brewery Guided Tour and Beer Tasting Experience: $41
  • Art and Wine Tour in a Historic Santorini Winery: $41
  • Half Day Simply Santorini Tour with Wine Tasting: $72
  • Visit to a Wine Museum and Wine Tasting in Santorini: $89
  • Caldera Views, Cliffside Villages, and Santorinian Wine Tasting: $99
  • Santorini Private Wine Tour with Local Wineries & Tastings: $99
  • Premium Wine Tasting with Caldera Views: $103
  • Santorini Wine Tasting & Premium Lunch at Award-Winning Winery: $128
  • 4-Hour Blue Domes Tour with Wine Tasting in Santorini: $145
  • Santorini Private Wine Tasting and Farm to Table Experience: $167
  • Private Highlights Tour with Wine Tasting 4 or 5hour duration: $168
  • Santorini Wine Tour: Visit 3 Local Wineries with Tastings: $172


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Santorini, we can see that Santorini 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 Santorini 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 Santorini would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santorini 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 Santorini Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Santorini?

Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 33% larger than the population of Santorini. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Santorini, 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.