Which place is cheaper, Abu Dhabi or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi?
Zanzibar
Just off the coast of Tanzania lies an entrancing archipelago known as Zanzibar. This gorgeous string of islands is the land of sultans, palaces beaches and spice-filled markets. Once an important trading center, many restorations have been done in recent years to restore Zanzibar to its ancient grandeur - earning its capital city UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $50Abu Dhabi $164
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $50, while the average daily cost in Abu Dhabi is $164. 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 Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Abu Dhabi $98
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Abu Dhabi $196
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi? 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: Zanzibar Hotel Prices and Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Abu Dhabi $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Arrival Private Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Island by Minivan: $8.45
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer to/from Hotel: $18
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $20
- Airport Taxi and Hotel Transfer Service in Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Stone Town Hotels to the Airport: $20
- Zanzibar Airport transfers and Taxi services: $22
- Private Zanzibar Airport Transfers to and from any Hotel: $22
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar to Abeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ): $27
- Private Departure Transfer in Zanzibar: $32
- Zanzibar transfers and Taxi: $35
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Stone Town: $37
- Private Transfer from Mbweni to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental$31
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Taxi to Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Abu Dhabi : Private Half Day Guided Tour - Transfer Included: $125
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Abu Dhabi Hotel or Address): $133
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $71
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $120
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai City Private Transfers: $135
- Abu Dhabi hotel to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai Airport (DXB) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Burj Khalifa Tickets With Transfer: $158
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi?
Prices for flights to both Abu Dhabi and Zanzibar 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 dayZanzibar $16Abu Dhabi $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Half-Day Kuza Cave Swimming Adventure and Cooking Class: $13
- Private Zanzibar Spices Tour with Traditional Swahili Cooking Lesson: $55
- An romantic cooking Lesson + Spice Farm Tour: $55
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Zanzibar pizza making & wine tasting: $65
- Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour: $68
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class : $75
- Cooking Class Tour: $77
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $90
- A private half day spice farm with a cooking lesson: $90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $49
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and all Camp Activities : $72
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Dinner: $84
- Buffet Dinner Cruise including Transfer from Abu Dhabi: $93
- 4x4 Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner: $96
- Overnight Safari Abu Dhabi ,Belly Dance ,Camel Ride ,Henna Painting ,BBQ Dinner: $130
- Overnight Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner & Breakfast Abu Dhabi: $133
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Dinner: $140
- Overnight Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Morning Breakfast: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Abu Dhabi $39
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Easy Stone Town Tour: $20
- Stone Town tour: $20
- 3 Hour Community Walking Tour: $20
- Zanzibar stone town city tour: $20
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $20
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Private Walking Tour in Stone Town: $25
- Stone Town Cultural City Tour: $25
- Stone Town Tour: $25
- Stone Town walking tour, shopping, history and culture: $26
- Zanzibar Stone Town Private Walking Tour: $26
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Qasar Al Hosn Abu Dhabi Entry Tickets: $11
- Qasr Al Watan Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Admission Ticket: $22
- Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Entry Ticket: $22
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Skip-the-Line Ticket: $23
- Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan: $25
- Tickets to The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi: $31
- The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi Admission Tickets: $31
- Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi Ticket: $31
- Dubai Full Day Tour without Lunch from Abu Dhabi: $32
- Private Kayak Adventure in Abu Dhabi: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.72Abu Dhabi $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Zanzibar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zanzibar:
- Thrilling Pub Crawl In Zanzibar. Visit 3 Unique Bars: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Zanzibar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zanzibar is in Africa and Abu Dhabi is in Middle East, 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 Zanzibar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zanzibar 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 Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Zanzibar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zanzibar Expensive? and Is Abu Dhabi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi, 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 Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi?
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 Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Abu Dhabi. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Abu Dhabi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Abu Dhabi during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Abu Dhabi receives 331 hours of full sun in the summer.
Abu Dhabi can become quite hot in the summer. In the summer, Zanzibar is cooler than Abu Dhabi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Abu Dhabi averages at about 35°C (95°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Abu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Abu Dhabi. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in October than Abu Dhabi. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Abu Dhabi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Abu Dhabi. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Abu Dhabi receives 314 hours of full sun.
In October, Zanzibar is generally cooler than Abu Dhabi. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Abu Dhabi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Abu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi in the Winter?
Both Abu Dhabi and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Abu Dhabi. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Abu Dhabi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Abu Dhabi during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Abu Dhabi receives 269 hours of full sun in the winter.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Abu Dhabi in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Abu Dhabi fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Abu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Abu Dhabi in the Spring?
Both Abu Dhabi and Zanzibar during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Abu Dhabi. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Abu Dhabi receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Abu Dhabi. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Abu Dhabi receives 297 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Abu Dhabi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Abu Dhabi averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Abu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Abu Dhabi and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Abu Dhabi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 21°C (70°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.