Which place is cheaper, Basel or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Basel?
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 Basel 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 Basel?
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.
Basel
Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesBasel Prices
Switzerland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Basel $317
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Basel is $317. 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 Basel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Basel $161
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Basel $322
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Basel
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Basel? 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 Basel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Basel $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer Anywhere: $12
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers Pickup and Drop off/departure: $20
- Private Airport Transfers in Zanzibar To Stone Town: $20
- Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers & Island Shuttles – Book Now: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $20
- Zanzibar Departure Transfer from Stone Town Hotels to the Airport: $20
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town and Beyond: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer to/from Hotel: $20
- Zanzibar Aiport transfer services: $23
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar airport/port - Pick & Drop off: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basel
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Basel:
- Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) by MB Van: $126
- Arrival Private Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Business Car: $115
- Basel Airport (BSL) to Badenweiler - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $130
- Basel Airport (BSL) to Basel - Arrival Private Transfer: $90
- Basel Airport (BSL) to Feldberg Resort - Arrival Private Transfer: $122
- Basel Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $115
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $126
- Basel to Basel Airpor (BSL) - Departure Private Transfer: $90
- Departure Private Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $115
- Departure Private Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Luxury Van: $126
- Private Transfer Basel Airport BSL to Zurich City in Car or Van: $231
- Private Transfer Service from Basel to Basel Airport: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Basel?
Prices for flights to both Basel 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 $28Basel $119
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
- Traditional Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $75
- 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $99
- Zanzibar Private Tour & Cooking Class: $110
- Fully Day Private Tour Spice Tour Cooking Class and Stone town: $130
- Spice Farm with Cooking Class + Lunch and Stone town (City tour): $130
- Exclusive Private Sunset Dinner Sail along North Coast Zanzibar: $140
- Spice Tour; Secret Garden Restaurant; Stone Town; Dinner at The Rock Restaurant: $140
- Mnemba Snorkeling Tour, Secret Garden, Stone Town Tour, Emerson Spice Dinner: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Basel
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Basel.
- Self-Guided Food Tour: $49
- Traditional Swiss Dinner: Cheese Fondue, Appetizers/Dessert: $162
- Traditional Swiss Dinner: Cheese Fondue, Appetizers and Dessert: $169
- Cooking Class: Homemade Italian Lasagna Experience by Locals: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Basel $42
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Stone Town Self Audio Guide Tour With Tourist Map: $6.00
- Private Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Tour: $15
- Stone town Private Walking Tour: $16
- Golden Walking Tour Of Stone Town Zanzibar: $17
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $17
- City Tour with French guide: $18
- Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar: $18
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour: $19
- Best Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $20
- Zanzibar Green Tour Spice Farm and Butterfly Centre: $20
- Zanzibar stone town city tour: $20
Tours and Activities in Basel
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basel are as follows:
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $6.24
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $6.27
- Klein Basel Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $6.27
- Basel Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $7.52
- Uncover Basel A Self Guided Tour of Old Town Highlights: $7.89
- Basel Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.27
- Gundeli Deliciously Sustainable Tour: $10
- Edible Basel Local Bio Saved Tour: $10
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $12
- Swiss Cheese Tasting Experience | Basel: $19
- Swiss Chocolate Tasting Experience | Basel: $19
- Basel Historical Old Town Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Basel $37
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 Basel
Also in Basel, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Alsace wine tour & medieval villages small group guided tour: $368
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Basel, we can see that Basel 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 Basel 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 Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel 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 Basel Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Basel?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Basel. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Basel, 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 Basel?
Basel 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 Basel in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Basel. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Basel because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Basel. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Basel fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basel this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Basel during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Basel receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Basel. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Basel receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Basel 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Basel in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Basel. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Basel this time of year.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Basel in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Basel fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Basel. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basel receives 120 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Basel. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Basel receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Basel 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Basel in the Winter?
Both Basel and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Basel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Basel. In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Basel. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Basel averages at about 3°C (37°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Basel during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Basel receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Basel. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Basel receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Basel 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Basel in the Spring?
Both Basel 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Basel in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Basel. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Basel fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Basel. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basel receives 150 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Basel. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Basel receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Basel 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Basel and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Basel | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.