Which place is cheaper, Bern or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Bern?
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 Bern 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 Bern?
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.
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Bern $252
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Bern is $252. 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 Bern in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Bern $163
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Bern $326
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Bern
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Bern? 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 Bern Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Bern $34
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
- Airport Transfers: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $192
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $214
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $228
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Bern?
Prices for flights to both Bern 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 $17Bern $60
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Bern $34
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
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $25
- Stonetown City (Walking Tour): $25
- Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Private Stone Town City Tour Zanzibar : $25
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.39
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $7.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $7.48
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.61
- Self-Guided Tour of Bern's Fountains, Clocktowers, and Legends: $9.99
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- City Sightseeing Self-Guided Walking Tour Game: $15
- Thun Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Fribourg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Bern $27
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 Bern, we can see that Bern 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 Bern 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern 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 Bern Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Bern?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Bern, 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 Bern?
Bern 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 Bern in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Bern. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Bern. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Bern averages at about 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Bern during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Bern. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Bern 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bern in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Bern. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°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 Bern. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in October than Bern. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Bern 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bern in the Winter?
Both Bern 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, the winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Bern can be very cold. Zanzibar is much warmer than Bern in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Bern during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Bern. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Bern 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bern in the Spring?
Both Bern 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. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year.
In the spring, Zanzibar is much warmer than Bern. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Bern averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In the spring, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bern. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Bern. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Bern 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Bern and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Bern | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.