A Travel Price Comparison for Tanzania Zanzibar vs. Arusha for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.


Which place is cheaper, Arusha or Zanzibar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $64, while the average daily cost in Arusha is $195. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zanzibar $25
    Arusha $130
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zanzibar $50
    Arusha $260
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.

Hotels in Zanzibar


Hotels in Arusha


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zanzibar $11
    Arusha $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:

  • Zanzibar:Stone town Street food market walking tour,transfer: $31
  • Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $110
  • Transfer to/from the airport from any location: $54
  • Stone Town to Airport Private Transfer: $23
  • Private Airport Transfer/standard van/hotels/WIFI: $45
  • Private Airport Transfer to/frm Stone Town Hotels.: $20
  • One-Way Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $40
  • Jozani Forest Tour with transfer: $67
  • Jozani Forest Guided Tour,Red Colobus and transfer: $75
  • Island Resort Transfer Service: $50
  • Hotel Transfer Services: $40
  • Fishing Boat Tour,sea experience with Transfer: $95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer from Arusha town: $90
  • Airport transfer: $45
  • 4Days Mount Meru Climbing with free airport transfer: $1,480
  • Tanzanite Museum and Shopping Tour with Transfer: $40
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer | Pick Up & Drop up | With BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD: $100
  • Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Private Transfer from Arusha to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $261

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Zanzibar $29
    Arusha $42

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.

  • Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Class: $31
  • Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
  • Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $50
  • 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
  • Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Class: $63
  • Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class with Lunch: $64
  • Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $65
  • Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour: $68
  • Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
  • Spice Farm Tour with Cooking Class and Stone Town: $70

Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.16

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: $33
  • Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class and Market Tour: $40
  • Guided walking city tour& traditional cooking lesson: $47
  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
  • Local Tanzanian Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia: $50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zanzibar $13
    Arusha $45

Tours and Activities in Zanzibar

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

  • City Tour in Zanzibar : $33
  • Group Tour to Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank: $120
  • Stone City, Spice Farm and Prison Island Full Day Tour: $120
  • Stonetown Private Half-day Walking Tour: $35
  • Zanzibar Adventures: $80
  • Zanzibar Spice Tour : $124
  • 2 Days Tour In Zanzibar: $180
  • 2 Hours Private Stone Town City Tour: $50
  • 2 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar: $270
  • 2-days safari adventure to Nyerere from Zanzibar by flight: $750
  • 3 Hour Community Walking Tour: $20
  • 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $19

Tours and Activities in Arusha

For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Coffee Tourism & Banana Farms Experience: $20
  • Arusha City: Children's Homes Visit & Donation Tour.: $22
  • Arusha; guided walking city tour small group in the city.: $23
  • City Discovery Guided Walking Tour & Local Lunch.: $24
  • Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $25
  • Arusha City: Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour, Tanzania.: $28
  • City Sightseeing Walking Tour With Local Guides.: $28
  • Arusha Guided Walking City Tour, Culture, Lifestyle & History : $28
  • Arusha Guided Walking City Tour Culture, lifestyle & history: $29
  • Charity Tour SATINO Daycare & Preschool (Half-Day): $29
  • Traditional Coffee Preparation(coffee tour): $30
  • Arusha Town Tour: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zanzibar $6.97
    Arusha $11

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
  • 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.