Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan. 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $80Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $80, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Koh Pha Ngan $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $74
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $114
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $81
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $95
- Mombasa Airport Transfers : $129
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Private Day Tour of Mombasa City with Transfers: $104
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $43
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City Hotels to Mombasa Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $41Koh Pha Ngan $20
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
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Koh Pha Ngan $19
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
- Tusks, Fort Jesus, Old Town, Beach and City Tour: $30
- Mombasa city tour: $30
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $35
- Private Mombasa Food & Sightseeing Tour: $35
- Mombasa City Tour : $40
- Half day Mombasa City Tour: $42
- Haller Park Tour observing hippos, giraffes, birds, monkeys, crocs & others: $45
- Half-Day Scenic Bike Tour: $48
- Private Mombasa City Tour Watamu Diani and Malindi: $50
- Walking Tour Through Old Town Mombasa and Fort Jesus: $50
- Bus Tickets from Mombasa to Nairobi: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.79Koh Pha Ngan $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mombasa is in Africa and Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Mombasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mombasa than you might in Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Koh Pha Ngan?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Mombasa or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Mombasa during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mombasa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
Koh Pha Ngan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mombasa usually gets less rain in July than Koh Pha Ngan. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Mombasa is generally around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Koh Pha Ngan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Mombasa is around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Koh Pha Ngan. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. Mombasa usually gets less rain in January than Koh Pha Ngan. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Mombasa is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mombasa in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Mombasa. In April, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Mombasa is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.