Which place is cheaper, Amsterdam or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Zanzibar or Amsterdam?
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 Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam?
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.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. There are over one million residents in the metro area. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The architecture, bridges, and cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $52Amsterdam $189
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $52, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is $189. 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 Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $25Amsterdam $110
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $50Amsterdam $220
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Amsterdam
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Amsterdam? 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 Amsterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Amsterdam $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Airport - Hotels Transfer all over the Zanzibar Island: $60
- Airport /Hotel Transfers: $25
- Airport Pick-up Transfer To any Hotel In Zanzibar: $30
- Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Departures: $55
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Airport transfer to Nugwi, Paje and Kiwengwa Hotels : $45
- Airport transfer to/from Nungwi, Matemwe, Kiwengwa, East coat and South: $60
- Airport/Hotel Transfer: $25
- Airport/port Transfer : $70
- Arrival Private Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Island by Minivan: $8.33
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport to Kendwa Beach Zanzibar: $40
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport to Nungwi Beach Zanzibar: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
-
Ride on Tram$3.47
-
Renting a Bike$16
-
One Hour Canal Cruise$11
-
Single Day Transit Pass$2.82
-
Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport$3.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- 1-15 pers Taxi/Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Hoek van Holland: $199
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Airport Amsterdam to Den Haag: $273
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Alkmaar: $155
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Almere: $155
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Amersfoort: $199
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Den Helder: $255
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Haarlem: $105
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Hoorn: $183
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Leiden: $127
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Zandvoort: $122
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam city to Airport: $109
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam in Amsterdam City: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam 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
-
Food Meals for one dayZanzibar $17Amsterdam $47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $60
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Spice Farm tour & Local cooking lesson with Lunch: $64
- Stone Town Private Food Tour with a Guide: $65
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $65
- Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour: $68
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
-
Afternoon Tea$6.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Food Tour Amsterdam (Tip Based): $5.45
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood : $8.18
- Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood: $13
- Self-Guided Food Tour in De Jordaan Neighbourhood: $13
- Self-Guided Food Tour of Amsterdam's De Jordaan District: $14
- Exclusive Burger Dinner Cruise through Amsterdam: $31
- Pizza Cruise with Drinks: $40
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket with A GOLD MENU Hard Rock Dinner: $43
- Burger Dinner Cruise through the Amsterdam Canals: $43
- Food Tour Jordaan District: $51
- Food Tour Amsterdam's Jordaan District Self-Guided: $52
- Evening Canal Cruise with Pizza and Drinks: $53
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Amsterdam $40
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Africa's Paradises Full Sightseeing Package Tours: $15
- Zanzibar Stone Town Historical City Tour: $20
- Stone Town tour: $20
- Stone Town Historical Walking Tour: $20
- Stone Town Tour in Zanzibar.: $23
- Stone Town Tour without transport: $24
- Stone Town Private Walking Tour: $25
- Stonetown City (Walking Tour): $25
- Zanzibar Tours & Taxi Services : $25
- Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Private Guided Stone Town Tour of Zanzibar: $25
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum$6.50
-
Entry for two to the Anne Frank House$18
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Golden Age Canals Walking Tour: $1.07
- Red Light District Haunted History Night Tour: $1.69
- Two-hour walking tour of Amsterdam: $2.61
- City Exploration Game and Walking Tour: $3.20
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Rude Bastards Tour of Amsterdam: $3.20
- Best of Amsterdam City Tour: $3.20
- Amsterdam Spanish Tour 2 Hours: $3.26
- Alternative tour Amsterdam (Tip-Based): $3.26
- Rude Bastards Tour of Amsterdam (CYHIT): $3.27
- Free Walking Tour of Haunted Amsterdam: $3.27
- Dark History of the City Walking Tour: $3.41
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.91Amsterdam $26
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 Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Amsterdam Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22
- Bar Crawl with Shots and Beer Maid Guide: $25
- Red Light District Pub Crawl: $27
- Central Pub Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $27
- Distillery Tour & Tasting at Spirited Union: $27
- Original Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entrance: $29
- Chateau Urban Wine Tasting and optional bites: $32
- Leidseplein and Red Light Pub Crawl: 2 Night Pass: $37
- Kings Night Ultimate Party Pub Crawl: $37
- Self-guided Red Light District Pub Crawl Mystery: $37
- Red Light District and Local Pub Tour: $39
- Dutch Cheese and Wine Tasting - Evening Cruise: $43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Amsterdam, we can see that Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam 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 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Amsterdam, 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 Amsterdam?
Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam in the Summer?
Both Amsterdam and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Amsterdam. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Amsterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It's quite sunny in Amsterdam. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Amsterdam during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Amsterdam receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Amsterdam. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Amsterdam 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Amsterdam in the Autumn?
Both Amsterdam and Zanzibar during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Amsterdam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Amsterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Amsterdam. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amsterdam receives 99 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Amsterdam. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Amsterdam 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Amsterdam in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Amsterdam. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, many travelers come to Amsterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Amsterdam. In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Amsterdam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Amsterdam averages at about 2°C (36°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Amsterdam during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Amsterdam receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Amsterdam. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Amsterdam 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Amsterdam in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Amsterdam. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Amsterdam in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Amsterdam. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Amsterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In the spring, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Amsterdam. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amsterdam receives 166 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar receives a lot of rain in the spring. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Amsterdam. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Amsterdam 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Amsterdam and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Amsterdam | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.