Which place is cheaper, Riga 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 Riga?
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 Riga. 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 Riga?
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.
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesRiga Prices
Latvia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $80Riga $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $80, while the average daily cost in Riga is $143. 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 Riga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Riga $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Riga $122
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Riga
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Riga? 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 Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Riga $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Safe Private Airport Transfer in Mombasa: $19
- Transfer From Mombasa (Moi Airport/SGR) To Diani: $35
- Mombasa Moi Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Private Transfer from Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA) to Mombasa City: $43
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City to Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA): $43
- DianiBeach: Private Transfer from Airport or Railway Station: $70
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer from Mombasa City Hotels to Mombasa Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Mombasa Cruise Port to Mombasa City Hotels: $79
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer to Diani Beach: $81
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfers To Vipingo & Kilifi Hotels: $95
- Private Day Tour of Mombasa City with Transfers: $104
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga center to Airport: $53
- Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga Old city: $53
- 4x4 Off-Road Adventure with Hotel Transfers: $258
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $163
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga City to Riga Airport (RIX) - Private Transfer.: $75
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $43
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $45
- Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga City - Private Transfer.: $75
- Private transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga city by Car or Van: $68
- Private transfer Riga - Hill of Crosses - Riga: $138
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Riga?
Prices for flights to both Riga 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 $41Riga $67
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 Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch$6.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $72
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $251
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mombasa $18Riga $16
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
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Legends and Secret of Riga's Old Town : $96
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $88
- 24h Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $36
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $95
- 5,5 Hour Small Group Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $90
- Admission Ticket to Live Silver Museum: $13
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $80
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $81
- An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $6.99
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Bachelorette Party Adventure's Organization: $46
- Beer Bike Experience : $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.79Riga $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $35
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $59
- Riga Brewery Tour: $59
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $77
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Riga, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Mombasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mombasa is in Africa and Riga is in Europe, 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 Mombasa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mombasa 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga than you might in Mombasa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mombasa Expensive? and Is Riga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Riga?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Riga, 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 Riga?
Riga 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 Riga in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Mombasa as well as Riga. Mombasa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Riga for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Mombasa is a little warmer than Riga in the summer. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Riga fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Mombasa usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Riga. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Riga receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMombasa 24°C (75°F)Riga 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Riga in the Autumn?
Both Riga and Mombasa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mombasa throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Riga in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Mombasa is much warmer than Riga. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mombasa in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Riga averages at about 7°C (45°F).
It's quite rainy in Mombasa. In October, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Riga. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Riga receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMombasa 26°C (79°F)Riga 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Riga in the Winter?
Both Riga and Mombasa during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mombasa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Riga can be very cold during winter. In January, Mombasa is generally much warmer than Riga. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Riga fluctuates around -5°C (23°F).
Mombasa usually gets more rain in January than Riga. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Riga receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMombasa 27°C (81°F)Riga -5°C (23°F)
Should I visit Mombasa or Riga in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Riga. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Riga because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Mombasa is much warmer than Riga in the spring. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Riga fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
Mombasa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Riga. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Riga receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMombasa 27°C (81°F)Riga 5°C (42°F)
Typical Weather for Riga and Mombasa
| Mombasa | Riga | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.