How much does it cost to travel to Mombasa?
You should plan to spend around $64 (KES8,209) per day on your vacation in Mombasa. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $24 (KES3,093) on meals
- $18 (KES2,286) on local transportation
- $53 (KES6,786) on hotels
A one week trip to Mombasa for two people costs, on average, $890 (KES114,926). 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.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Mombasa 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 Mombasa expensive to visit?
Mombasa is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Kenya, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Africa, Mombasa is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Dakar or Soweto.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Mombasa Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Mombasa?
The average Mombasa trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Mombasa travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
KES6,786
($53)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
KES2,286
($18)
|
|
Food 2
|
KES3,093
($24)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
KES2,321
($18)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
KES571 -
1,714
($4 - 13)
|
Accommodation Budget in Mombasa
The wide range of prices for hotels and accommodation in Mombasa can be very surprising. Some destinations have much higher price tags than others, and even within the same areas you can find a big difference between the budget-friendly and higher-end hotels. Also, during peak season, prices are much higher. You can save a good bit of money if you travel during the low season or shoulder seasons, as room prices adjust according to the overall demand. Booking in advance can often save you money, too.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Mombasa is $26 (KES3,393). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Mombasa is $53 (KES6,786). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Mombasa include:
- Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa starting at $137
Transportation Budget in Mombasa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Mombasa is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $18 (KES2,286) per person, per day, on local transportation in Mombasa.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$18
KES2,286
A few of the typical hotel transfers and transportation services include:
- Diani Taxi and Airport Transfers for $70 details
- Private Transfer from Mombasa for $35 details
- Private Transfer from Diani Beach Hotels to Moi Airport for $70 details
How much does it cost to go to Mombasa? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Mombasa 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 Mombasa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Mombasa can vary, the average cost of food in Mombasa is $24 (KES3,093) per day, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$24
KES3,093
If you want to experience the culture in Mombasa, a food tour or cooking class is a great way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Special African Dinner for $46 details
- Fort Jesus Sound and Light Show Tour With Dinner. For $46 details
- Fort Jesus Light and music Night Shows With Dinner. For $47 details
Entertainment Budget in Mombasa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Mombasa typically cost an average of $18 (KES2,321) 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.
$18
KES2,321
A nice way to explore destinations in Mombasa is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves for $28 details
- Haller Park Tour observing hippos, giraffes, birds, monkeys, crocs & others for $45 details
- Private Walking Tour in Old Town for $45 details
Alcohol Budget in Mombasa
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $8.85 (KES1,143) on alcoholic beverages in Mombasa per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$8.85
KES1,143
Nightlife activities and tasting tours are popular in Mombasa. A few favorites from other travelers include:
- Coastal Pub Crawl - Bamburi Drunk Tour for $25 details
Mombasa on a Budget
Mombasa beach resort, Kenya
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.
Sights
At the entrance of the city, you'll find the Mombasa Tusks, aluminum tusks built in 1956 to celebrate Princess Margaret's visit. The tusks are positioned to form the shape of an "M", which is considered to shaped in honor of Margaret's first initial. Mombasa boasts a wealth of history, especially thanks to their history of Portuguese occupation. Explore the history of the city with a walk through the historic Old Town district to see the blend of Portuguese and Swahili architecture sitting side by side. Nearby are the beautiful Hindu Temples where a guide will tour you around to enjoy the ancient artifacts, Hindu idols, and paintings.
Take a walk through the Bombolulu Workshops, founded in 1969 by the Association for the Physically Disabled in Kenya (APDK). The workshop employs over 150 disabled people from the local community to create jewelry, textiles, leather goods, and many other crafts. Bombolulu is the largest rehabilitation center in Kenya and is a great place to find stunning souvenirs while also supporting the community.
Neighborhoods
Mombasa is quite a large city and is divided into three different regions that are relevant to tourists: Mombasa Island, North Coast, and South Coast.
The main part of the city and the old town are located on Mombasa Island, which is divided into multiple districts, with the key districts being:
Kibokoni: Part of Old Town where there is a lot of Swahili Architecture and the famous Fort Jesus area.
Kuze: Part of Old Town with a strong Swahili culture and is quickly becoming a popular modern part of town.
Makadar: Part of Old Town which was home to former Baluchi soldiers who settled in the area before it became a town.
The North Coast region is home to many beautiful beaches and hotel resorts and is divided into the following major districts:
Nyali: Known for their beach front hotels and shopping.
Bamburi: Home to Bamburi Beach and the Haller Park Nature Trail and Wildlife Conservatory.
The South Coast region is best known for it's stunning beaches, with just one key district there:
Diani Beach: A popular beach resort and major tourist attraction because of the gorgeous beaches there.
Activities
Mombasa offers incredible natural scenery, especially on Avicennia Island. The island offers kayaking through sunken mangrove forests, swimming in emerald waters on the Funzi Sandbar, and dining on fresh seafood in a wooden banda-or beach house. Continue exploring with a trip to the Shimba Hills National Park, where you'll find elephant habitats, free roaming antelopes, a waterfall, and the Mwalunganje forest which offers incredible views of the entire area.
A trip to Mombasa wouldn't be complete without a trip to one, or a few, of their beautiful beaches. Some of the best beaches include:
English Point: This beach overlooks Old Town in the area of Mkomani. It is best for walking on the sand rather than swimming.
Nyali Beaches: Nyali offers beautiful sandy beaches that are perfect for walking on. Due to being so close to the city, water tends to be polluted and not suited for swimming.
Bamburi Beach: Lovely white sand beach with palm trees and nice water quality, making it great for swimming. There are restuarants nearby to eat, drink, and people watch from.
Shanzu Beach: Another lovely white sandy beach with palm trees, although a little less busy than Bamburi making it great for swimming and relaxing on the sand.
Tiwi Beach: Located on the South Coasst, Tiwi is very quiet and has few tourists. During low tide, you can swim in the water and catch glimpses of the beautiful tropical fish swimming around you.
Food and Dining
Mombasa boasts very diverse cuisines, including Swahili, Indian, Chinese, Korean, and Italian. There are a large number of restaurants throughout the area, especially in the Fort Jesus area of the Mombasa Island. No matter the cuisine, seafood is very popular throughout the city. The seafood here is fantastic as it is caught fresh daily from the Indian Ocean. There is a big nightlife scene, especially on Mombasa Island and on the beaches. You'll find a range of bars, pubs, and entertainment clubs.
Transportation
Mombasa has an international airport as well as a domestic airport located near Diani Beach. Trains offer a more scenic route to the city and can transport you from Nairobi to Mombasa in about 13 hours.
To get from the city center on Mombasa Island to the beaches, you can take a taxi. Keep in mind that taxis do not have traditional signs on them, just license papers in the windshield. Buses are abundant, although can become quite crowded and difficult for tourists to understand. A popular option for short distances, under a few miles, is to rent a rickshaw-also called a tuk tuk. Rickshaws are often just as inexpensive as buses and offer more scenic routes while also allowing you to meet great locals!
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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.
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.