Which place is cheaper, Tokyo 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 Tokyo?
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 Tokyo. 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 Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesTokyo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Tokyo $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $179. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Tokyo $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Tokyo $150
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Tokyo $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mombasa Airport Transfers: $129
- Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $80
- From Mombasa Airport Diani Transfer in a Minivan 5 Pax: $75
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $73
- 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 Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $42
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $42
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $352
- Transfer from Tokyo City Center to Haneda Airport (HND): $91
- Private Transfers to/from Narita Airport(NRT): $79
- Private Transfer to/from Haneda Airport 7 Seater: $124
- Private Transfer from/to Yokohama Port: $181
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $308
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Yokohama Port: $67
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Hakone or Mt.Fuji: $156
- One-Way Private Transfer from Haneda Airport: $149
- Tokyo ⇆ Narita Airport (NRT) Private Transfer One-Way／Roundtrip: $154
- Tokyo ⇆ Haneda Airport (HND) Private Transfer One-Way／Roundtrip: $102
- Tokyo to/from Narita (NRT): Private Van Transfer (One-Way): $181
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $41Tokyo $63
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
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $136
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.08
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.08
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Meal at Airport$6.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Shinjuku 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour: $32
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $32
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Giant Sushi Cooking Class: Make a 1.5m Sushi Roll in Tokyo: $42
- Private Yanaka District Walking & Food Tour: $45
- Traditional Matcha Making Cooking Class & Tea Ceremony in Tokyo: $50
- Tokyo Cute Sushi : Kawaii Sushi Cooking Class!: $52
- Tokyo Home Cooking: Choose Your Favorite Japanese Dishes: $57
- Japanese cooking class - Bring the flavors of Japan to France: $61
- Tokyo Yakatabune Dinner Cruise：Sukiyaki, Show&Tokyo Tower Option: $63
- Tokyo Bay Yakatabune Dinner Cruise: Sukiyaki,Show & Odaiba Route: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Tokyo $67
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 Wasini Dolphin Tour From Diani Beach: $110
- 4 Hours Guided Mombasa City Tour: $45
- City Tour with Ghalib: $76
- Day Tour Experience to Tsavo East National Park: $190
- Day Tour To Shimba Hill Reserve From Mombasa: $270
- Day Tour To Shimba Hills Park from Mombasa: $264
- Diani Beach Village Tour and Wildlife Park Day Trip: $218
- Elky Shimba Hills and Sheldrick Waterfall Day Tour: $250
- Full Day Group Joining Tour In Mombasa From Kilindin Harbour Port: $140
- Full Day Mombasa City Tour with a Local Guide: $130
- Full Day Mombasa Excursion Tour: $162
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- "Enjoy Tokyo Tour" Harajuku Meiji-jingu & Delicious Sake Tasting: $65
- "TOKYO DRIFT" Film Location Tour Mt Nokogiri & Local Drift Garage: $258
- (Private tour)ShinjukuUnfiltered Secret bar restaurant Tour: $259
- 1 Day Tour Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park: $190
- 1 Day Tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone from Tokyo: $189
- 1-Day Mt Fuji and Hakone Sightseeing trip from Tokyo: $338
- 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour: $126
- 10:30 local gathering and rafting tour half day (3 hours): $39
- 14:00 local rafting tour half day (3 hours): $39
- 2 Day Package Tour including Haneda Airport Pickup: $203
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Asakusa: $104
- 2-Hr Tokyo Night Bike Tour: Shibuya, City Lights & Tokyo Tower: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Tokyo $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.81
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Low-cost local pub & bar crawling: $32
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Tokyo Sake Terroir Journey – Guided by Sake Brewery Professional: $91
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $104
- Shinjuku Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local foods-: $104
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $110
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo: $123
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $133
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $149
- Private Tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and Riverside Walk: $248
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Tokyo?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Tokyo, 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 Tokyo?
Tokyo 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 Tokyo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Tokyo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Tokyo for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Mombasa is around the same temperature as Tokyo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mombasa in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Tokyo averages at about 26°C (78°F).
In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Tokyo during summer. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Tokyo receives 137 hours of full sun in the summer.
Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Tokyo. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Tokyo 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Tokyo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Tokyo. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Tokyo in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Mombasa is generally a little warmer than Tokyo. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 26°C (79°F), and Tokyo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the autumn, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Tokyo. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tokyo receives 129 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Tokyo. Mombasa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa usually gets less rain in October than Tokyo. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Tokyo 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Tokyo in the Winter?
Both Tokyo and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Tokyo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Mombasa is much warmer than Tokyo in the winter. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Tokyo fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Tokyo during winter. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Tokyo receives 175 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Tokyo. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Tokyo 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Tokyo in the Spring?
Both Tokyo and Mombasa during the spring 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 spring months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Mombasa is much warmer than Tokyo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mombasa in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Tokyo averages at about 14°C (58°F).
It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the spring, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Tokyo. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tokyo receives 161 hours of full sun.
Tokyo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually gets more rain in April than Tokyo. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Tokyo 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Tokyo and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Tokyo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.