Should you visit Nairobi or Mumbai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Mumbai can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Mumbai?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India.
Which place is cheaper, Mumbai or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Mumbai is $75. 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 Nairobi and Mumbai in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Mumbai? 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:
Nairobi Hotel Prices and
Mumbai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park:
$197
-
Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or City to Mara by road:
$160
-
Private Road transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli:
$150
-
Return Airport Transfers in Nairobi:
$120
-
Private Shuttle Van Transfer:
$100
-
Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer:
$95
-
Private Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA Transfers to Nairobi Hotels:
$95
-
Airport/hotel/transfers In Van/bus/sedan Car Within Nairobi:
$80
-
Museum of Illusion Nairobi Experience with Transfers:
$75
-
Private Transfer from Nairobi to Naivasha:
$70
-
Airport Transfers in Nairobi City:
$70
-
Private Luxury airport Taxi transfer Services Nairobi JKIA to City Hotels:
$50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
VIP Mumbai Airport Transfer: Comfort & Convenience:
$19
-
Transfer to & fro Airports,Cruise Terminal,Hotels or any whichway, one way/time:
$64
-
Transfer Mumbai Airport Hotel/Navi Mumbai:
$19
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai hotels to Mumbai Cruise Port:
$57
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Hotels:
$57
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Airport (BOM):
$40
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel:
$11
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai:
$57
-
Private Transfer from Chatrapati Shivaji (BOM) Airport to Mumbai:
$41
-
Private Arrival Departure Airport Transfers Mumbai:
$53
-
One way Private transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel:
$36
-
Private Transfer to/from Mumbai Airport:
$28
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Mumbai?
Prices for flights to both Mumbai and Nairobi 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 day
Nairobi $13
Mumbai $38
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi:
$21
-
Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local:
$40
-
Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour:
$55
-
Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience:
$60
-
Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi:
$65
-
Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience:
$68
-
Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch:
$68
-
Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local:
$76
-
Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel:
$90
-
The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport:
$97
-
Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner:
$100
-
Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi:
$100
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Private Bollywood Studio Tour & Indian Cooking Class:
$11
-
Private Evening City & Street Food Tour with AC Car:
$11
-
Best Steet Food Tour & Marekt with Train Ride Tour:
$14
-
Mumbai Food Tour — 178 Years of Bombay on a Plate:
$14
-
Discover Mumbai's street & beach with Vegetarian food tour:
$14
-
Mumbai Street Food Tour with Evening Bazaar Walk:
$14
-
Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Mumbai with a Local Family:
$16
-
Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai:
$20
-
Indian Cooking Class & Cultural Delights:
$23
-
Private Dharavi Walking Tour & Indian Cooking Class:
$25
-
Safe Food Tour in Mumbai for 2 hours:
$27
-
Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home:
$29
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha:
$139
-
1 Day Hell's Gate Bicycle Tour (minimum 2 Pax):
$280
-
1 Day Hiking Adventure At Mt Longonot From Nairobi(minimum 2 Pax):
$225
-
1 Day Pure Adrenaline Adventure with Kenyan BBQ Lunch Experience:
$200
-
1 Day Tour to Amboseli National Park:
$200
-
1 Day Tour to Amboseli Park And a Majestic Mt Kilimanjaro View:
$200
-
1 night small group tour to Hells gate and Mount Longonot:
$177
-
2 Days Amboseli Safari using a 4x4 Landcruiser jeep(with options):
$105
-
2-Hour Private Kibera Slum Guided Tour:
$90
-
3 Day Maasai Mara Group Safari Big Five Adventure from Nairobi:
$300
-
3 Day Maasai Mara Shared Safari In a Land Cruiser:
$220
-
3 Days Maasai Mara Camping Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep:
$285
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
-
" Dash Of Mumbai " Sightseeing & Experiences-by Goi Licensed Guide Ragini Doshi:
$281
-
"Mumbai - Dharavi Slum Tour":
$8.47
-
"Mumbai City Sightseeing Tour":
$42
-
2 Days Delhi, Agra Tour from Mumbai by Flight:
$299
-
2 Days Mumbai City tour with Elephanta Caves:
$90
-
2 Days Mumbai Tour with Car and Hotel:
$285
-
2-Day Tour to Taj Mahal, Agra from Mumbai with Both side Commercial Flights:
$270
-
2-Day Tour to The Taj Mahal, Agra from Mumbai with Both Side Commercial Flights:
$254
-
2-Hour Guided Tour of Dharavi:
$21
-
2Days Mumbai Sightseeing Tours with Dharavi, Elephanta Caves:
$62
-
3 Days Chatrapati Shambaji Nagar Tour from Mumbai in Pvt Vehicle:
$290
-
3 Days Complete Mumbai Tour Inclusive of Bollywood Studio Experience:
$277
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
-
Bombay Party (Bar Crawl):
$25
When comparing the travel costs between Nairobi and Mumbai, we can see that Mumbai is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Nairobi is in Africa and Mumbai is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Mumbai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Mumbai?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Nairobi. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Mumbai, 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.
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