Which place is cheaper, Mumbai 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 Mumbai?
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 Mumbai. 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 Mumbai?
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.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesMumbai Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $80Mumbai $83
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $80, while the average daily cost in Mumbai is $83. 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 Mumbai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Mumbai $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Mumbai $64
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Mumbai
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa 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: Mombasa Hotel Prices and Mumbai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Mumbai $7.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Airport Transfers : $129
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Watamu Hotels: $114
- Private Day Tour of Mombasa City with Transfers: $104
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $95
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $81
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City Hotels to Mombasa Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $79
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $74
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $43
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to & fro Airports,Cruise Terminal,Hotels or any whichway, one way/time: $69
- Transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $55
- Private Transfer: Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $35
- Private Transfer from Mumbai to your Accommodation in Pune: $24
- Private Transfer from Mumbai hotels to Mumbai Cruise Port: $168
- Private Transfer from Mumbai Int Airport (BOM) to Mumbai Port: $162
- Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Hotels: $81
- Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Hotels: $168
- Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Airport (BOM): $62
- Private Transfer Mumbai Airport by Innova Crysta: $25
- One way Private transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $39
- Mumbai Private Airport Transfer to Hotel Easy & Safe: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Mumbai?
Prices for flights to both Mumbai 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 $41Mumbai $42
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Street Food Tour with Mumbai Sightseeing Tour including AC vehicles: $19
- Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai: $20
- Mumbai Food Tour: $20
- Small Group Authentic Mumbai Virtual Cooking Class with Dessert: $20
- Mumbai Street Food Tour with Evening Bazaar Walk: $29
- Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home: $31
- Bombay Express Mumbai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
- Mumbai Street Food Tour: $42
- Daily Mumbai Street Food Tour : $52
- Private Mumbai Market Tour and Cooking Class With an Expert: $52
- Private Vegetarian Indian Cooking Class in Mumbai: $53
- Private Market Tour and Vegetarian Cooking Class in Mumbai: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Mumbai $2.52
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mombasa Getaway with Haller Park Tours: $150
- The Best Of Mombasa Walking Tour: $227
- Bus Tickets from Mombasa to Nairobi: $55
- Day Tour To Tsavo East National Park: $240
- Day Tour to Tsavo East National Park from Mombasa or Diani: $278
- Day tour to Shimba hills National Reserve from Mombasa/Diani: $336
- Diani: Full-day Guided Mombasa City Tour from Diani: $110
- Fort Jesus Museum Walking Tour in Mombasa: $35
- Full Day Group Joining Tour of Mombasa : $107
- Full Day Mombasa Excursion Tour : $110
- Full day tour in Mombasa: $93
- Full-Day Tour of Mombasa: $110
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
- Dharavi Authentic Slum Tour: $120
- Kanheri Caves Heritage Tour: $45
- Mumbai by Night Guided Tour : $50
- Private Full-Day Mumbai Sightseeing Tour with Dharavi Slums: $41
- "Private Mumbai City Sightseeing Tour": $46
- "Private Mumbai Dharavi Slum Tour": $9.24
- "Private Mumbai Kanheri Caves Tour : A Buddhist Settlement": $46
- 3 Day Private Tour in Aurangabad: $290
- 3 Hours Early Morning in South Mumbai Heritage Bicycle Tour : $46
- 3-Hour Private Guided Tour in Bollywood from Mumbai: $226
- 7 Hour Mumbai City Sightseeing Tour By Navv Om Namaha Shivaya: $116
- All In One Combo Tour of Mumbai City, Dabbawalas, Dhobhi Ghat, Slums & Bollywood: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.79Mumbai $3.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
- Bombay Party (Bar Crawl): $25
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $37
When comparing the travel costs between Mombasa 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 Mombasa 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 Mombasa Expensive? and Is Mumbai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Mumbai?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa 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.
When is the best time to visit Mombasa or Mumbai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Mombasa or Mumbai in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Mumbai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Mumbai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Mumbai receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Mombasa usually receives less rain than Mumbai. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 640 mm (25.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Mumbai during summer. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Mumbai receives 73 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Mombasa is generally cooler than Mumbai. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 24°C (75°F), and Mumbai fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Mumbai 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Mumbai in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Mumbai. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mumbai throughout the year.
Mombasa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa usually gets more rain in October than Mumbai. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mumbai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the autumn, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Mumbai. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mumbai receives 240 hours of full sun.
Mombasa is cooler than Mumbai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Mumbai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Mumbai 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Mumbai in the Winter?
Both Mumbai and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Mumbai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Mumbai. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Mumbai. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mumbai during winter. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Mumbai receives 270 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Mombasa is a little warmer than Mumbai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mombasa in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Mumbai averages at about 24°C (75°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Mumbai 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Mumbai in the Spring?
Both Mumbai 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mumbai year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually gets more rain in April than Mumbai. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Mumbai, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the spring, Mombasa often gets less sunshine than Mumbai. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mumbai receives 284 hours of full sun.
In April, Mombasa is generally around the same temperature as Mumbai. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Mumbai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Mumbai 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Mumbai and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Mumbai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 560 mm (22 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 640 mm (25.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 520 mm (20.5 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.