Which place is cheaper, Bali or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Bali?
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 Bali 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 Bali?
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.
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Bali $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Bali is $74. 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 Bali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Bali $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Bali $84
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Bali
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Bali? 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 Bali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Bali $9.12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar transfer and taxi services: $15
- Departure Private Transfer from Island to Zanzibar Airport ZNZ by Standard Van: $17
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer ( Tax) To Stone Town: $19
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Stone Town Hotels to the Airport: $20
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Private Transfer from Abeid Amani Karume Airport to Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $20
- Zanzibar Shared Departure Transfer: $21
- Zanzibar Airport transfers and Taxi services: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
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Motorbike Rental$3.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
- BALI PARAGLIDING Fly, Swing and Soaring above the sea with private transfer: $103
- Bali Gili Fast Boat Transfer Ticket All Inclusive: $51
- Bali Parasailing Adventure with Including Hotel Transfer: $45
- Bali Parasailing Adventure,Banana Boat,Jet Ski and Donut Boat with Transfers: $59
- Bali Quad and Buggy Discovery Tour, Including Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Bali Spa Treatment with Airport Transfers (Departure): $56
- Bali Spiritual: Blessing Ceremony, Pristine Nature and Transfer: $109
- Bali Tours 4U Airport and Seaport transfers. 24 hours a day.: $21
- Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $64
- Bali White Water Rafting with Lunch and Private Transfer: $48
- Bali and Nusa Penida: Fast Boat Transfers: $29
- Bali and Trawangan: Fastboat with Optional Bali Transfer: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Bali?
Prices for flights to both Bali 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 $17Bali $21
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 Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- An romantic cooking Lesson + Spice Farm Tour: $55
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Zanzibar Cooking Class & Spice Tour : $59
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $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
Typical Food Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
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Coffee$1.25
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Lunch for Two$14
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Bali Cafe for Two$27
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Lunch for Two$8.14
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Lunch for 2$9.02
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Dinner for 2$9.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
- Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset : $29
- Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset in the Beach: $29
- Uluwatu Temple Kecak And Dinner Half Day Private Guided Tour: $30
- Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $31
- Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
- From Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $33
- Pirate Dinner Cruise with Shows, Games, and Music: $33
- From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village: $35
- Seminyak: Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $45
- Bali Private tour Beach,Traditional dance, Uluwatu Temple, Sunset, Dinner: $45
- Spice Garden, Jamu & Cooking Class in Bali Village: $45
- Bali Street Food Tour: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Bali $11
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
- Easy Stone Town Tour: $20
- Stone Town Historical Walking Tour: $20
- Stone Town tour: $20
- Zanzibar Stone Town Historical City Tour: $20
- Stone town walking tour ( City tour): $23
- Stone Town Tour without transport: $24
- Stone Town Private Walking Tour: $25
- Zanzibar Tours & Taxi Services : $25
- Private Stone Town City Tour Zanzibar : $25
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
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Spa for Two$54
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Snorkelling Trip$13
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Cooking School$28
Tours and Activities in Bali
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
- Bali Water Sports Adventure: $7.89
- Bali Bird Park 1-Day Admission Ticket: $9.12
- Private ATV Quad Bike Guided Adventure in Ubud: $12
- Private Tour to New Indonesia Urban Destination: $13
- Kecak and Fire Dance Ticket at Uluwatu Temple: $14
- Uluwatu Temple and Karang Boma Cliff Tour with Tickets: $15
- Best of Ubud Full Day Private Guided Tour: $19
- All-Inclusive White Water Rafting Adventure in Ubud: $19
- 1-Day Instant Entry Ticket to Waterbom Bali: $19
- Ubud: Monkey Forest, Rice Terraces, Temple & Waterfalls Tour: $20
- Bali Nusa Dua Theatre: Devdan Show Tickets: $20
- Bali Traditional Purification And Sightseeing Private Guided Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Bali $3.23
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 Bali, we can see that Bali 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 Bali is in Asia, 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 Bali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bali 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 Bali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Bali?
Bali has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Bali, 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 Bali?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bali in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Bali. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
April to September in Bali is the dry season. In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Bali. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bali receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bali this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Bali during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Bali receives 253 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Bali. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Bali fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Bali 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bali in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Bali. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year.
October to March in Bali is the rainy season. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in October than Bali. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bali receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bali. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bali. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bali receives 266 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Bali in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Bali fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Bali 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bali in the Winter?
Both Bali and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Bali is October to March. In January, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Bali. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bali receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Bali during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Bali receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Bali. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Bali averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Bali 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bali in the Spring?
Both Bali and Zanzibar during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round.
April to September is the dry season in Bali. It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Bali. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Bali receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Bali, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Bali. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bali receives 226 hours of full sun.
In April, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Bali. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Bali fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Bali 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Bali and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Bali | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 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.