Which place is cheaper, Basse-Terre or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Basse-Terre?
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 Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre?
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.
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, and The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Basse-Terre $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Basse-Terre is $162. 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 Basse-Terre in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Basse-Terre $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Basse-Terre $192
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Basse-Terre
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Basse-Terre? 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 Basse-Terre Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Basse-Terre $8.57
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Basse-Terre?
Prices for flights to both Basse-Terre 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 $17Basse-Terre $49
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Basse-Terre $50
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 tour: $20
- Stone Town Historical Walking 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
- Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Private Stone Town City Tour Zanzibar : $25
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $25
- Zanzibar Tours & Taxi Services : $25
Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:
- Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Basse-Terre $14
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 Basse-Terre, we can see that Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Basse-Terre?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Basse-Terre, 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 Basse-Terre?
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 Basse-Terre in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Basse-Terre. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Basse-Terre. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Basse-Terre during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Basse-Terre receives 245 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Basse-Terre. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Basse-Terre averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Basse-Terre in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Basse-Terre. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Basse-Terre. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Basse-Terre. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basse-Terre receives 217 hours of full sun.
In October, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Basse-Terre. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Basse-Terre 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Basse-Terre in the Winter?
Both Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Basse-Terre. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Basse-Terre during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Basse-Terre receives 236 hours of full sun in the winter.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than Basse-Terre in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Basse-Terre in the Spring?
Both Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre year-round.
Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Basse-Terre. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Basse-Terre. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basse-Terre receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Basse-Terre. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Basse-Terre averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Basse-Terre and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Basse-Terre | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.