A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zanzibar vs. Antsiranana for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zanzibar or Antsiranana?

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 Antsiranana 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 Antsiranana?

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.

Antsiranana

Antsiranana is the capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Diana, and until 1975 it was known as Diego Suarez. The city has a port that has become a site for naval repairs and is the largest in the entire Indian Ocean. The port is mainly used for tinned fish and bottled drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The city has a population of a little over 100,000. The French used the city as a military base after independence from 1960 until 1973, after the socialist revolution.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to Madagascar, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar.


Which place is cheaper, Antsiranana or Zanzibar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $52, while the average daily cost in Antsiranana is $90. 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 Antsiranana in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zanzibar $25
    Antsiranana $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zanzibar $50
    Antsiranana $86
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Antsiranana

Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Antsiranana? 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 Zanzibar


Hotels in Antsiranana


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zanzibar $11
    Antsiranana $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:

  • Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
  • Zanzibar:Hotels & Airport Transfer Services: $50
  • Stone Town to Airport Private Transfer: $23
  • Splash Transfer: $60
  • Safari blue tour with Lunch and Transfers: $180
  • Private Airport Transfer: $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
  • Airport_Hotel and Destination Transfer Service: $29
  • Airport/Port&Hotel transfer service: $58

Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Antsiranana?

Prices for flights to both Antsiranana 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 day
    Zanzibar $17
    Antsiranana $35

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
  • An romantic cooking Lesson + Spice Farm Tour: $44
  • Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
  • Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $60
  • Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
  • Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
  • Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $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
  • Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class : $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zanzibar $13
    Antsiranana $19

Tours and Activities in Zanzibar

Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Full Day Spice Tour, Prison Island and City Tours: $140
  • Half-Day Walking Tour in Zanzibar City's Spice Island: $63
  • Spice Farm & Prison Island Tour in Zanzibar: $87
  • 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
  • 2 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar: $270
  • 2day Zanzibar adventure: Prison Island & Sandbank (all-incl): $533
  • 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 : $33

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zanzibar $6.91
    Antsiranana $10

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Antsiranana, we can see that Antsiranana is more expensive. And not only is Zanzibar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Antsiranana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antsiranana 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 Antsiranana Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Antsiranana?

Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Antsiranana. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Antsiranana, 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.