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

Should you visit Mombasa or Santiago?

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 Santiago. 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 Santiago?

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.

Santiago

Santiago is the capital city of Chile. It is centrally located in the long and narrow country, making it a good jumping off point to explore everywhere else. It's convenient location means that you can go skiing in the Andes one day, and hang out at the beach the next.

Santiago has a cool semi-arid climate that is similar to Mediterranean climates. The summers, which are between November and March, are warm and dry. The temperatures climb to around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters, between June and August, are humid with cold mornings. The daily highs are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows stay a few degrees above freezing. Rain is more common in the winter months and the dry season is between December and March.

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, Santiago 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
    Santiago Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mombasa $80
    Santiago $150

The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $80, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $150. 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 Santiago in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mombasa $26
    Santiago $109
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mombasa $52
    Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Santiago

Looking for a hotel in Mombasa or Santiago? 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 Santiago


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 Santiago Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Santiago $5.41

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:


  • Metro Ride
    $1.13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:

  • Transfer to Valparaiso Cruise Terminal with Winery & Town Tour: $109
  • Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers : $49
  • Transfer to San Antonio port with Valparaiso & Casablanca tour: $87
  • Transfer from Valparaiso or San Antonio Port + Condor Watching Tour: $230
  • Transfer from Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski to Santiago: $83
  • Transfer from Santiago To Valle Nevado, Farellones, Colorado or La Parva ski: $100
  • Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
  • Transfer Santiago-Viña del Mar / Viña del Mar-Santiago: $220
  • Transfer Santiago-Valparaiso / Valparaiso-Santiago: $220
  • Transfer Santiago to Cruise Port in Valparaiso or San Antonio: $290
  • Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
  • Transfer Santiago Airport to the commune of Providencia: $56

Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Santiago?

Prices for flights to both Santiago 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
    Santiago $23

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 Santiago

Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:


  • Empanada
    $1.88
  • Hamburger
    $2.50
  • Dinner
    $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.

  • Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes: $40
  • Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
  • 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
  • Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
  • Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
  • Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
  • Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
  • Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $122
  • San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
  • Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
  • Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $181
  • Santiago Chilean and Peruvian Cooking Class with a Local Carol: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mombasa $18
    Santiago $47

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 Santiago

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:

  • Private Half-Day Guided Tour of the City of Santiago.: $280
  • Private Sightseeing City Tour in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $240
  • "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $26
  • 1 Day Tour of Viña Concha y Toro from Santiago: $120
  • 4 Hour Santa Rita Winery All inclusive Tour for Wine Lover: $269
  • 6 Hour Tour of Culture, History and Flavors from Santiago: $75
  • A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
  • A full Private Tour of Valparaiso from Santiago : $240
  • A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
  • An Architect's Tour of Downtown Santiago: $55
  • Andean Adventure: Cajón del Maipo & Santuario del Río Spa: $132
  • Andean Horse Ride Yerba Loca Sanctuary - Private tour from Santiago: $240

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mombasa $8.79
    Santiago $8.40

Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago

Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
  • Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
  • Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
  • Undurraga Wine tour: $70
  • Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
  • Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $79
  • Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with wine tasting in Casablanca: $79
  • Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
  • Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
  • Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
  • Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $89
  • Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Santiago, we can see that Santiago 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 Santiago is in South America, 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 Santiago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santiago 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 Santiago Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Santiago?

Santiago has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Mombasa. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa and Santiago, 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 Santiago?

Santiago 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 Santiago in the Summer?

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

Mombasa is a little warmer than Santiago in the summer. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.

Mombasa usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. Mombasa gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Mombasa 24°C (75°F) 
    Santiago 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Mombasa or Santiago in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Mombasa is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mombasa in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in Mombasa. In October, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. Mombasa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Mombasa 26°C (79°F) 
    Santiago 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Mombasa or Santiago in the Winter?

Both Santiago 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.

In January, Mombasa is generally much warmer than Santiagoin July. Daily temperatures in Mombasa average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Mombasa usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. Mombasa gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Mombasa 27°C (81°F) 
    Santiago 9°C (48°F)

Should I visit Mombasa or Santiago in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mombasa and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mombasa year-round.

Mombasa is much warmer than Santiago in the spring. The daily temperature in Mombasa averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in October.

Mombasa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Mombasa usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. Mombasa gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Mombasa 27°C (81°F) 
    Santiago 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Santiago and Mombasa

Mombasa Santiago
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (81°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
May 26°C (79°F) 260 mm (10.2 in) 12°C (54°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Jun 24°C (75°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 9°C (48°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 24°C (75°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 9°C (48°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 10°C (50°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Sep 25°C (77°F) 50 mm (2 in) 12°C (54°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 17°C (63°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)