Which place is cheaper, Adelaide or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Adelaide?
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 Adelaide 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 Adelaide?
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.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the often overlooked capital city of the State of South Australia. It's also the fifth largest city in the country. Despite being skipped by most travelers, Adelaide is an interesting city to explore and has a decent amount to offer open minded travelers. It has some fascinating architecture, unique shopping, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. Part of the appeal of Adelaide is its location in the midst of Australia's wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. Any of these destinations could be visited as a day trip from Adelaide.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Sydney.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Adelaide $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Adelaide is $111. 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 Adelaide in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Adelaide $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Adelaide $132
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Adelaide
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Adelaide? 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 Adelaide Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Adelaide $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- transfer from airport to Makunduchi Zanzibar: $44
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
- Zanzibar:Hotels & Airport Transfer Services: $50
- Stone Town to Airport Private Transfer: $23
- Safari blue tour with Lunch and Transfers: $180
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town: $23
- Private Airport Transfer: $50
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $50
- Jozani Forest and Spice Farm Tour With Transfer: $110
- Island Transfers: $50
- Fishing Boat Tour with Transfer: $109
- Baraka Turtle Aquarium Tour with Hotel Transfers: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
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Shuttle from the Train Station$3.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Adelaide - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Adelaide Airport (ADL): Private Transfer to Adelaide Port: $254
- Adelaide Airport (ADL): Private Transfer to Adelaide hotels: $220
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Luxury Car: $106
- Adelaide Airport(ADL)to Adelaide city - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Adelaide Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Adelaide: $57
- Adelaide Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Adelaide city: $254
- Adelaide Private Airport and City Transfer: $109
- ADL Airport Private Transfer to Downtown: $119
- Full-Day Private City Tour with Hotel Transfers: $496
- Arrival Private Transfers: Adelaide Airport ADL to Adelaide in Business Car: $62
- Departure Private Transfers: Adelaide to Adelaide Airport ADL in Luxury Van: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Adelaide?
Prices for flights to both Adelaide 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 $17Adelaide $31
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
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- An romantic cooking Lesson + Spice Farm Tour: $55
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Zanzibar Cooking Class & Spice Tour : $59
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $60
- Spice Farm tour & Local cooking lesson with Lunch: $64
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $65
- Stone Town Private Food Tour with a Guide: $65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- HandleBar Bike Tour with Pub Stops & Dinner Option: $23
- Local Food Tour and Tastings with Guide: $79
- Cooking classes Goolwa: $129
- Small-Group River Murray Dark Sky and Sunset Tour with Dinner: $192
- Pipi Catching and Cooking Experience in Goolwa : $230
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Adelaide $14
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Spice Tour & Mangapwani Cave Tour: $80
- Stone City, Spice Farm and Prison Island Full Day Tour: $130
- Stonetown Private Half-day Walking Tour: $35
- Zanzibar Spice Tour : $47
- 10 DAYS MOSHI TO ZANZIBAR BIKE TOUR: $4,286
- 2day Zanzibar adventure: Prison Island & Sandbank (all-incl): $538
- 3 HOURS PRISON ISLAND TOUR IN ZANZIBAR: $60
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $30
- 3-Day Selous Game Reserve Safari & Cultural tour with Flight: $1,345
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island : $26
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adelaide Self-Guided Audio Tour: $1.00
- Queer Adelaide History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Torrens River Cruise in Adelaide: $17
- River Torrens Popeye Sightseeing Cruise: $17
- Adelaide Oval Stadium Guided Tour: $19
- Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour: $19
- An exciting, Tree Top Adventure for Our Littlest Adventurers : $23
- River Torrens Popeye Devonshire Tea Cruise: $26
- Adelaide Walking Tour: Hills, Squares and Parklands: $27
- Adelaide Gaol Adults Ghost Tour & Investigation: $28
- City Highlights Walking Tour with Guide: $29
- Private Home Style Indian Dining Experience: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Adelaide $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Zanzibar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zanzibar:
- Pub Crawl & Club Experience: $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
- Private Pinot Noir Wine Tasting & Platter in Adelaide Hills: $30
- River Torrens Desserts And Wine Tour: $43
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon): $52
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting Tour: $52
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $79
- Highlights, Hahndorf, & McLaren Vale Wine Tastings: $79
- Barossa Valley Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour: $112
- From Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour: $112
- The Barossa Valley Premium Wine Tour with Lunch: $112
- Barossa Small Group Wine Tours - Local Guide: $131
- Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour: $131
- Adelaide Hills Full Day Wine Tour: $131
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Adelaide, we can see that Adelaide 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 Adelaide is in Pacific, 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 Adelaide would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Adelaide 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 Adelaide Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Adelaide?
Adelaide has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Adelaide, 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 Adelaide?
Adelaide has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Zanzibar experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Adelaide in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Adelaide. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Adelaide this time of year.
In the summer, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Adelaide. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Adelaide averages at about 22°C (72°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Adelaide. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Adelaidein January. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Adelaide receives 330 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in July than Adelaidein January. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Adelaide 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Adelaide in the Autumn?
Both Adelaide and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Adelaide for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Adelaidein April. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Adelaide fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Adelaide. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Adelaide during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Adelaide receives 215 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Adelaidein April. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Adelaide 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Adelaide in the Winter?
Both Adelaide and Zanzibar during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Adelaide in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Adelaide in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Adelaide fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Adelaidein July. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Adelaide receives 159 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Adelaidein July. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Adelaide 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Adelaide in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Adelaide. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, most visitors come to Adelaide for the beaches during these months.
In the spring, Zanzibar is much warmer than Adelaide. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Adelaide averages at about 16°C (61°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Adelaide this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Adelaide during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Adelaide receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.
Zanzibar gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Adelaidein October. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Adelaide 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Adelaide and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Adelaide | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 25 mm (1 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.