Which place is cheaper, Arusha or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Arusha?
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 Arusha 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 Arusha?
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.
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Photography Tours in Tanzania, and The Best Camping Tours in Tanzania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $52Arusha $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $52, while the average daily cost in Arusha is $176. 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 Arusha in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $25Arusha $129
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $50Arusha $258
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Arusha
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Arusha? 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 Arusha Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Arusha $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
- 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
- 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
- Airport to Stone Town Private Transfer: $22
- Airport to Hotel Transfer: $62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers, Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro JRO: $70
- Airport transfer: $45
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Tanzanite Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $40
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer | Pick Up & Drop up | With BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD: $100
- Private Roundtrip Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha.: $50
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $130
- Transfer Around Moshi and Arusha in Tanzania: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Arusha?
Prices for flights to both Arusha 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 $17Arusha $24
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 Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $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
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
- Cooking Class Tour: $77
- Cooking Lesson and Spice farm tour: $77
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking and Sewing & Jewelry Workshops in Arusha: $27
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $40
- Africa health cuisine food tour: $105
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Arusha $45
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
- Full Day Spice Tour, Prison Island and City Tours: $140
- Half-Day Walking Tour in Zanzibar City's Spice Island: $63
- 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
- 2 Days Tour In Zanzibar: $180
- 2 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar: $270
- 2day Zanzibar adventure: Prison Island & Sandbank (all-incl): $532
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $30
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $25
- Coffee making tour in Arusha: $27
- Mountain Bike Tour of the Foothills of Mount Meru: $30
- Cycling toure in Arusha villages: $31
- Private Meru Coffee Tour in Nkoaranga: $35
- Private Local Market Tour in Tengeru: $35
- Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Arusha : $35
- Tanzanite experience tour - Tanzanite shopping in Arusha: $35
- Sunset Tour in Arusha: $36
- The Arusha City walking Tour And Local Lunch.: $40
- The Real Arusha City walking Tour, Tanzania.: $41
- Guided Mountain bike tour through Arusha village: $43
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.91Arusha $11
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 Arusha, we can see that Arusha 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 Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha 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 Arusha Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Arusha?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Arusha, 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.
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.