Which place is cheaper, Bucharest or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Bucharest?
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 Bucharest 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 Bucharest?
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.
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $52Bucharest $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $52, while the average daily cost in Bucharest is $137. 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 Bucharest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $25Bucharest $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $50Bucharest $126
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Bucharest
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Bucharest? 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 Bucharest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Bucharest $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Airport - Hotels Transfer all over the Zanzibar Island: $60
- Airport /Hotel Transfers: $25
- Airport Pick-up Transfer To any Hotel In Zanzibar: $30
- Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Departures: $55
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Airport transfer to Nugwi, Paje and Kiwengwa Hotels : $45
- Airport transfer to/from Nungwi, Matemwe, Kiwengwa, East coat and South: $60
- Airport/Hotel Transfer: $25
- Airport/port Transfer : $70
- Arrival Private Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Island by Minivan: $8.33
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport to Kendwa Beach Zanzibar: $40
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport to Nungwi Beach Zanzibar: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
- Bucharest Airport Private Transfer by Van : $76
- ATV Adrenaline Race in Carpathian with Private Transfer: $140
- Airport Bucharest Transfer: $54
- Airport Henri Coanda (Otopeni) to Bucharest - Private Transfer - Driver: $43
- Airport Transfer Bucharest - Brasov ,Brasov- Bucharest: $65
- Airport to Bucharest - Private Transfer from Henri Coanda Airport OTP Otopeni : $43
- Airport to Bucharest /Private Transfer from OTP Henri Coanda: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bucharest Airport OTP to Brasov in Luxury Van: $162
- Arrival Private Transfers from Bucharest Airport OTP to Bucharest City: $51
- Arrival Private Transfers from Bucharest Airport OTP to Bucharest City: $65
- Bran Castle of Dracula Yourself : Private Transfer from Bucharest Airport OTP: $239
- Bucharest (Romania) to Veliko Tarnavo (Bulgaria) - Private Guided Transfer : $282
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Bucharest?
Prices for flights to both Bucharest 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 $17Bucharest $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $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
- Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour: $68
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
- Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour: $60
- Cooking Class traditional food: $65
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $74
- Unhealthy Food Tour of Bucharest – 4 hours: $75
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $84
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $86
- Private Walking Food Tour - Culture, History & Traditions: $98
- 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $201
- Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $227
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Bucharest $15
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
- Zanzibar Stone Town Historical City Tour: $20
- Stone Town Historical Walking Tour: $20
- Stone Town tour: $20
- Stone Town Tour in Zanzibar.: $23
- Stone Town Tour without transport: $24
- Stone Town Private Walking Tour: $25
- Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Zanzibar Tours & Taxi Services : $25
- Stonetown City (Walking Tour): $25
- Private Guided Stone Town Tour of Zanzibar: $25
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Buchaest: Peles Castle, Bran Castle, & Brasov Old Town Tour: $5.31
- Tour Kings and Palaces of Bucharest: $11
- A Tale of Bucharest Old Town Walking Tour: $11
- Reptiland Bucharest Entry Ticket: $13
- Communism Walking Tour from Lenin to Ceausescu in Bucharest: $13
- City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Bucharest Highlights Walking Tour: $17
- Calea Victoriei and Old Town Highlights Tour: $19
- Parliament Palace Skip-the-line Ticket: $20
- Guided Tour at museum Casa Storck: $21
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Bucharest: $22
- Roma Culture and History Guided Walking Tour: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.91Bucharest $9.17
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Weekend Pub Crawl: $23
- Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $25
- Bachelors Party in Custom Bar Crawl: $37
- Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $43
- From Romanian Wine Tasting Tour: $45
- Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $47
- Romanian Wine Tasting: $48
- Private Romanian Wine Tasting in Urlați: $51
- Bucharest VIP Bar Crawl in Lipscani 'Old Town': $59
- Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting: $84
- Wine Tasting Tour at First Wine Bar: $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Bucharest, we can see that Bucharest 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 Bucharest 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest 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 Bucharest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Bucharest?
Bucharest has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Bucharest, 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 Bucharest?
Bucharest 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 Bucharest in the Summer?
Both Bucharest and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Bucharest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Bucharest. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Bucharest fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Bucharest. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Bucharest during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Bucharest receives 289 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Bucharest. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Bucharest 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bucharest in the Autumn?
Both Bucharest and Zanzibar during the autumn 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 visitors come to Bucharest in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Bucharest in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Bucharest fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Bucharest. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bucharest receives 177 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in October than Bucharest. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Bucharest 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bucharest in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Bucharest. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, most visitors come to Bucharest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Bucharest can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Bucharest. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Bucharest averages at about -1°C (29°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Bucharest during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Bucharest receives 71 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Bucharest. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Bucharest -1°C (29°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Bucharest in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Bucharest. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the activities around the city.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Bucharest. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Bucharest fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Bucharest. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bucharest receives 185 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar receives a lot of rain in the spring. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Bucharest. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Bucharest 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Bucharest and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Bucharest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 43 mm (1.7 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.