Which place is cheaper, Athens or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zanzibar vs. Athens for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Athens?
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 Athens 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 Athens?
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.
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $53Athens $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $53, while the average daily cost in Athens is $136. 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 Athens in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $25Athens $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $50Athens $134
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Athens
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Athens? 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 Athens Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $12Athens $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Daressalam with two way transfers : $260
- Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise with Transfers.: $149
- Private Return Transfer From Zanzibar Airport To Paje: $140
- Off-Road Quad Bike Adventure with hotel transfer: $138
- Zanzibar Airport Pick-up, Drop off & Transfer Services : $120
- Fishing Boat Tour with Transfer: $109
- Sunset Cruise - Magic of Zanzibar Sunset With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100
- Blue Safari Tanzania Fascinating day Sea Trip With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100
- Zanzibar COVID-19 Testing Center Private Round Trip Transfer: $99
- Private Transfer from Makunduchi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $92
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Makunduchi: $92
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Kizimkazi: $92
Typical Local Transportation prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two$6.84
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Metro$1.60
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Metro$2.14
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Metro from Airport to City Center$8.55
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Taxi from Airport$37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Athens Airport To Piraeus Port / Hotel Private Luxury Transfer : $44
- Athens to Piraeus (Athens) Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer from Athens International Airport to Pylos: $836
- Transfer from Athens-Pireaus-Athens Airport to Corinth-Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi: $222
- 2 Day Transfer to Delphi - Meteora From Athens: $1,108
- 3 Islands 1 Day from Athens (Hydra - Poros - Aegina) - Hotel Transfer Included: $172
- 3 Islands 1 Day from Hydra - Poros - Aegina, No Transfer: $156
- A mini Embark / Disembark Tour In Athens With Transfers from airport / port.: $263
- AIRPORT TRANSFER in Athens : $29
- Accessible Private Transfer WAV from Athens Airport to Port Rafina: $43
- Airport Private Minivan Transfers: $165
- Airport Private Transfers: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Athens?
Prices for flights to both Athens 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 $17Athens $40
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
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $35
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $50
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $52
- Private Zanzibar Spices Tour with Traditional Swahili Cooking Lesson: $55
- Zanzibar Cooking Class & Spice Tour : $59
- 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
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
Typical Food prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream$3.20
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Souvlaki$2.35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $22
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $24
- Greek Meatballs Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $47
- Greek Street Food Tour: $49
- Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries: $50
- Oriental Kitchen Cooking Classes in Athina: $53
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Classes in Athina: $53
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Classes in Athina: $54
- Oriental Kitchen Cooking Classes in Athina: $54
- Sights and Food Tour on an Electric Bicycle: $57
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Athens $38
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
- City Tour in Zanzibar : $33
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Full Day Spice Tour, Prison Island and City Tours: $140
- Half-Day Walking Tour in Zanzibar City's Spice Island: $63
- Private Maalum Cave, Spice Farm and Stone Town City Day Tour: $148
- Sea Turtles Tour ( Nungwi Aquarium): $40
- Spice Farm & Prison Island Tour in Zanzibar: $87
- Spice Tour & Mangapwani Cave Tour: $80
- Stonetown Private Half-day Walking tour: $35
- 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Stone Town' Walking Tour: $30
- 1 Day Tanzania - Selous Game Reserve Safari Tour: $450
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.27
- Self-guided First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.27
- Hadrian's Library Skip-the-Line Ticket: $4.43
- Herakleidon Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Entry Ticket: $5.44
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $5.53
- Athens Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- 360 Virtual tour of Ancient Athens: $6.00
- Temple of Olympian Zeus Skip-the-Line Ticket: $6.09
- Roman Agora of Athens Skip-the-Line Ticket: $6.09
- Plaka Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.20
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of Ancient Agora: The Highlights: $6.64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $7.14Athens $24
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Polykala Distillery showroom. A125 years of history along with liqueur tasting.: $16
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $18
- The NightCrawlers | Athens Pub Crawl: $19
- Wine Tasting in Athens: $20
- The Original Athens Pub Crawl - Athens Drunk Tour: $21
- Greek Wine Tasting: $23
- The Original Athens Pub Crawl - Athens Drunk Tour: $26
- Wine Tasting: $35
- Athens Wine Tasting: $35
- Athens Speakeasy & Alternative Bar Crawl: Discover Hidden Gems: $39
- Noble Greeks Acropolis Wine Tasting with Private Sommelier: $43
- 1 Hour Private Four Greek Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Athens: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Athens, we can see that Athens 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 Athens 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Zanzibar.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Athens?
Athens is bigger, and its population is about 81% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the population of Zanzibar vs. Athens, 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 and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar or Athens?
Athens 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 Athens in the Summer?
Both Athens and Zanzibar during the summer 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 travelers come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Athens in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Athens fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Athens. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Athens receives 357 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in July than Athens. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Athens receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Athens 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Athens in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Athens. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, many visitors come to Athens in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Athens. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Athens averages at about 19°C (67°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Athens during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Athens receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Athens. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Athens receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Athens 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Athens in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Athens. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Athens. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Athens fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Athens. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Athens receives 143 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Athens. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Athens receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Athens 10°C (51°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Athens in the Spring?
Both Athens and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Athens because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Athens in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Athens fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
It's quite sunny in Athens. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Athens during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Athens receives 226 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Athens. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Athens receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Athens 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Athens and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Athens | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
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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.
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