Travel Budget for Diani Visit Diani on a Budget or Travel in Style

Diani, Kenya

How much does it cost to travel to Diani?

You should plan to spend around $49 (KES7,042) per day on your vacation in Diani. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $18 (KES2,607) on meals
  • $13 (KES1,923) on local transportation
  • $42 (KES6,000) on hotels

A one week trip to Diani for two people costs, on average, $684 (KES98,583). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $49
    KES7,042
  • One Week Per person
    $342
    KES49,291
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $684
    KES98,583
  • One Month Per person
    $1,467
    KES211,248
  • One Week For a couple
    $684
    KES98,583
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $1,369
    KES197,165
  • One Month For a couple
    $2,933
    KES422,497
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Diani cost?

A one week trip to Diani usually costs around $342 (KES49,291) for one person and $684 (KES98,583) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Diani on average costs around $684 (KES98,583) for one person and $1,369 (KES197,165) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Diani will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Diani on average costs around $1,467 (KES211,248) for one person and $2,933 (KES422,497) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Diani has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Diani expensive to visit?

Diani is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Kenya, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its affordability. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Diani in depth.

Within Africa, Diani is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Africa for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Merzouga, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Dar es Salaam.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Diani Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Diani?

The average Diani trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Diani travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) KES6,000 ($42)
Local Transportation 1 KES1,923 ($13)
Food 2 KES2,607 ($18)
Entertainment 1 KES1,891 ($13)
Alcohol 2 KES575 - 1,725 ($4 - 12)
Accommodation Budget in Diani
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Diani is $21 (KES3,000). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Diani is $42 (KES6,000). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $21
    KES3,000
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $42
    KES6,000

Hotel Prices in Diani

Looking for a hotel in Diani? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Diani based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $232. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Diani
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Diani is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $13 (KES1,923) per person, per day, on local transportation in Diani.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $13
    KES1,923

Recommended Services


Flights to Diani
How much does it cost to go to Diani? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Diani
The price of renting a car in Diani will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Diani
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Diani can vary, the average cost of food in Diani is $18 (KES2,607) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Diani should cost around $7.24 (KES1,043) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Diani is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $18
    KES2,607


Entertainment Budget in Diani
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Diani typically cost an average of $13 (KES1,891) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $13
    KES1,891

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Diani
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $7.98 (KES1,150) on alcoholic beverages in Diani per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $7.98
    KES1,150

Recommended


Diani On a Budget
Diani is a major beach resort town on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 kilometers south of Mombasa and the beach has been voted Africa’s leading beach destination several times. With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it’s no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But Diani also has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors' voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.
Sights
The beautiful stretches of white sand beach and gorgeous blue waters of Diani Beach is the most popular sight and is what draws the majority of tourists, but there is more to see in Diani than award winning beaches.

Colobus Conservation, established in 1997, is a primate sanctuary, re-adaptation center, and orphanage for Angolan colobus in the Kwale County. If you want to see one of the six primate species in South Coast Kenya visit the colobus trust for an informative walk to spot one of the many wild primates. They work to promote conservation of the colobus monkeys and address threats to them. It can be an interesting and educational place to visit.

See the Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest to have some hours of relaxation and to get a spiritual lift. This is a special forest which can only be visited with a guide. It is better to phone ahead to confirm there is one, especially if you want to go early while it is still cool. Allow 2 hours for a full tour. It’s a place rich in cultural heritage as well as sacred ambience. One has to tie a black kanga as a sign of respect to the spirits residing in the holy forest. Through the nature trail you'll learn of different plants and a cleared area that shows the residence of the ancestors. After the long walk you can also enjoy a cultural dance. This sacred forest is a beautiful atmosphere surrounded by trees that are used in different medicines.

Visit Komboza Cave. The entrance is directly on the beach road near Southern Palms beach resort. The cave system runs from the entrance to the sea at Leisure Lodge in one direction and to the Mosque by Kongo river in the other. Or see the coral rock Slave Caves in Shimoni, the start and finish point for trips to Wasini Island. In these coral rock caves slaves were captured before they were sold in Zanzibar. A sad and yet interesting place. The caves now run as a community project. Short guided tours are offered.
Neighborhoods
Diani Beach/Town
The most popular area of Diani is the world famous, award winning beach. The water invites you to jump in for a leisurely swim and modern hotels populate the coastline with relaxing amenities. A place of wonder and excitement with lines of hotels that create the booming tourism industry that is the backbone of the area. There are shops, restaurants, and activities found at resorts and around beach areas since tourism is the main economy here, but the larger shopping area is in neighboring Ukanda.

Ukanda
Ukunda, the gateway region to Diani, is a bee hive of activities with all sorts of businesses established. These range from Mobile Money transfer services, boutiques, electronic shops, hotels and guest houses, and micro finance institutions. It is also home to Ukunda Airstrip managed by the Kenya Airports Authority to serve the tourism sector.A drive through Ukunda is a display of sales talent with many Kenyans selling beautiful African Kanga or Lessos depicting African culture, carvings, ornaments and paintings that are designed to capture the eyes of the tourist with rich colors. The plum trees line up their long leaves in welcome as they move to the ocean breeze.

Activities
Experience a wide range of watersport activities. For something different, learn the basics of kite surfing. There are also opportunities to experience paddle boarding and kayaking. Try snorkeling in some of the beautiful waters. You can even rent a jet ski and enjoy a day of riding around this tropical paradise.

A favorite activity here is to take a glass bottom boat tour where you can watch the fish and other ocean creatures in their natural world beneath you.

This is also a great opportunity to learn and experience skydiving, if you enjoy a good rush of adrenaline.

There are also several opportunities to book tours in the area. It is easy to book many tours right on the beach, though it is advisable to research ahead or ask at your hotel for reputable tour options. Tours are available for dolphin watching, safari's, snorkeling, sailing trips, Dirt road tours, tours to coral gardens and slave caves, river cruises, tours to a nearby island, and many more are available.
Food and Dining
The traditional food of Diani, is typical to most cuisine in Kenya. It is mixed and diverse and is an exciting combination of flavors to experience. The main staples of Diani cuisines are: Maize meal (called Ugali when cooked and unga when raw) and rice. Ugali is usually served as a white stiff porridge, good for dipping in stews or making into a makeshift spoon when you eat with your hands. Rice can be served in so many different ways, but usually it is plain boiled rice. Sometimes, the rice is transformed into a wonderful fragrant mound of colorful hues infused by the spices added like saffron, turmeric and cayenne plus nuts and dried fruits, it is a celebration of food, known as pilau rice. Stews are popular and they can either be vegetarian like maharagwe (a tasty bean dish with onions, tomatoes and spices all boiled together, making a thick bean sauce) or a meat stew, normally goat. Served with the ugali and stew is a vegetable dish made from kale, onions and tomatoes called skuma wiki. Kale, like many vegetables, grows all over Kenya and is found in most gardens. As a treat, the stews are sometimes served with chapatis, which is an Indian flatbread, the dough is freshly prepared and then rolled very flat before being shallow fried in plenty of oil, served warm, they are soft and pliable but have a lovely crisp edge. Then there is "nyama choma" – which is a flavorsome Swahili barbeque. The meat is usually beef or goat and occasionally chicken. Kenya grows some amazing tasting fruits, plump mangoes, oranges, tree tomatoes, bananas, plums, grapes and passion fruit to name but a few. So for dessert, fresh fruit is often the main choice.

Transportation
There are 2 Airports to choose from. The nearest is Ukunda Airport, just 2.4 km from Diani Beach. Moi International Airport is further, approximately 30km away. It is possible to reach Diani by bus, but it is not easily done. You have to change busses many times to reach Diani. To get around the area, there are number of Matatus running in the town from morning to late night. You can also book a Bajaj scooter or motorcycle taxi. There is also a Taxi service in Diani beach that you can use.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.