Which place is cheaper, Seoul 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 Seoul?
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 Seoul. 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 Seoul?
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.
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Seoul $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $117. 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 Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Seoul $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Seoul $98
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Seoul? 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 Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Seoul $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Mombasa: $22
- Transfer From Mombasa (Moi Airport/SGR) To Diani: $35
- Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $36
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $42
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $42
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $57
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa Port: $57
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Port to Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA): $57
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers: $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.28
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Short Taxi Ride$4.59
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Metro Ride$0.88
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Seoul City Pass Plus$6.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $164
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Incheon Airport(ICN): $39
- Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) Departure Private Transfer: $63
- Seoul Private Transfer Airport Gangneung Jeonju Gyeongju Busan: $13
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $63
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $132
- Private Transfer Incheon Cruise Terminal from and to Seoul: $105
- Private Transfer Incheon Airport Seoul Korea: $110
- Private Everland Theme Park Transfer: $212
- Private Airport Transfer:Seoul City Incheon ⇄Airport: $67
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul 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 $41Seoul $47
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
- Diani Beach Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $70
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$3.93
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Waffle$0.66
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Dippin' Dots$1.31
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.60
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Chicken Stick$1.31
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.24
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Lunch Buffet$3.93
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Donut$0.66
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Mushroom Burger$3.41
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.16
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Udon & Sushi$4.59
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Fresh Burger$3.14
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Soba Noodles Lunch$2.95
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.28
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Fried Rice$3.60
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.22
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.22
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Donut$1.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- EG Tour Gimpo Peace and Food Tour: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Korean Grandma Cooking Class l Gimbap & Kimchi Pancake l Seoul: $52
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $58
- Dinner at a Local's Hanok & Seoul's Night Life: $60
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Korean Home Style Cooking Class in Gangnam Seoul: $62
- Explore Seoul's Flavors on Group Cooking Class Adventure: $63
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Seoul $24
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
- Mombasa city tour: $30
- Tusks, Fort Jesus, Old Town, Beach and City Tour: $30
- Kongo River Sunset Experience in Canoe: $32
- Mombasa walking tour: $35
- Elky Diani Glass Bottom Tour to Robinson Island: $35
- Mombasa old town Walking Tour and Fort Jesus: $38
- Private Mombasa Food & Sightseeing Tour: $39
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $40
- Half day city tour of mombasa: $40
- Mombasa City Tour: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.24
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Movie Ticket$5.24
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Kimchi Museum$1.97
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- (Private tour) Nami Island + Railbike + Garden of morning calm: $260
- (Small Group) Art and Architecture tour of Seoul: $121
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2 hr / Seoul Private Pedicab Tour : Bukchon Anguk Hanok Village: $88
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 2026 ARMY Seasonal Special: Follow Idol Journey Day Tour fr Seoul: $72
- 2026 BTS Army Fan Day Tour from Seoul (Follow K-Pop Footsteps): $72
- 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best: DMZ Tour from Seoul: $45
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $30
- All Day Private Make your own plan tour to Nami Island and others: $270
- All Inclusive Korean Drinking Culture Experience with Korean BBQ: $99
- Alpaca World & Nami Island Private Tour: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.82Seoul $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beyond Makgeolli: A Hidden Brewery Experience in Seoul: $9.29
- Seoul Pub Crawl by Absolute: $20
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $80
- From Yeongdong Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Janggu: $91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Seoul, we can see that Seoul 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 Seoul 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul 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 Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Seoul, 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 Seoul?
Seoul 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 Seoul in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Seoul. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Seoul in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Mombasa is around the same temperature as Seoul in the summer. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the summer, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Seoul. Mombasa usually gets less rain in July than Seoul. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Seoul in the Autumn?
Both Seoul and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.
In the autumn, Mombasa is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mombasa in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Seoul averages at about 15°C (59°F).
It's quite sunny in Seoul. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during autumn. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Mombasa. In October, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Seoul. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Seoul in the Winter?
Both Seoul and Mombasa during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mombasa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Seoul because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Seoul can be very cold. In January, Mombasa is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Seoul fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the winter, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun.
Mombasa usually gets more rain in January than Seoul. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Seoul in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Seoul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Furthermore, the activities around the city are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
Mombasa is much warmer than Seoul in the spring. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Seoul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seoul this time of the year. In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during spring. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
Mombasa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Seoul. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.