A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mombasa vs. Punta Arenas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mombasa or Punta Arenas?

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 Punta Arenas. 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 Punta Arenas?

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.

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Mombasa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Mombasa Prices
    Kenya Prices
    Punta Arenas Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mombasa $80
    Punta Arenas $79

The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $80, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $79. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mombasa $26
    Punta Arenas $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mombasa $52
    Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Punta Arenas

Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Punta Arenas? 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.

Hotels in Mombasa


Hotels in Punta Arenas


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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Punta Arenas $1.80

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 Punta Arenas

Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
  • Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30
  • Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37

Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Punta Arenas?

Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mombasa $41
    Punta Arenas $36

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 Punta Arenas

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:


  • Donut
    $1.05
  • Dinner
    $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Punta Arenas $6.44

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 Punta Arenas

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.

  • Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
  • Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
  • For Cruise-ship passengers: Magdalena Island (Penguins): $200
  • Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
  • Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
  • Guided Tour of Punta Arenas and Fort Bulnes: $300
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
  • Magallanes National Reserve and Punta Arenas City Tour: $165
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Boat Tour and Marta Island: $165
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $160
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $160

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mombasa $8.79
    Punta Arenas $4.86

Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:


  • Alcohol
    $7.33


When comparing the travel costs between Mombasa and Punta Arenas, we can see that Mombasa 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 Punta Arenas is in South America, 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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Punta Arenas?

Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?

Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mombasa experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mombasa or Punta Arenas in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round.

In the summer, Mombasa is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mombasa in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 11°C (52°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Punta Arenas this time of the year. In Mombasa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mombasa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Punta Arenas during summer. Mombasa gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin January. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Mombasa 24°C (75°F) 
    Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Mombasa or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Punta Arenas. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Mombasa is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin April. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 26°C (79°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mombasa this time of the year. In the autumn, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin April. Mombasa gets 291 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun.

Mombasa receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mombasa usually gets more rain in October than Punta Arenasin April. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Mombasa 26°C (79°F) 
    Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)

Should I visit Mombasa or Punta Arenas in the Winter?

Both Punta Arenas and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year.

Punta Arenas can be very cold during winter. Mombasa is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the winter. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during winter. Mombasa gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin July. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Mombasa 27°C (81°F) 
    Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)

Should I visit Mombasa or Punta Arenas in the Spring?

Both Punta Arenas 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.

In the spring, Mombasa is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mombasa in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Mombasa. In the spring, Mombasa often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin October. Mombasa gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Mombasa. Mombasa usually gets more rain in April than Punta Arenasin October. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Mombasa 27°C (81°F) 
    Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)

Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Mombasa

Mombasa Punta Arenas
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (81°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 11°C (52°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 11°C (52°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 9°C (48°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
May 26°C (79°F) 260 mm (10.2 in) 4°C (39°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Jun 24°C (75°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 2°C (35°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Jul 24°C (75°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 1°C (35°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 3°C (37°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Sep 25°C (77°F) 50 mm (2 in) 5°C (40°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 7°C (44°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 9°C (48°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 11°C (51°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)