Which place is cheaper, Cardiff or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Cardiff?
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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff?
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.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and a major port on the country's southern coast. Though Cardiff boomed with the coal industry during the Industrial Revolution, the city began its history as a Roman fort on the River Taff-perhaps taking its name from a combination of the Welsh word for fort (caer) and the name of the river (Taff). The fort still stands today along with many other landmarks that attract tourists each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Cardiff $196
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Cardiff is $196. 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 Cardiff in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Cardiff $117
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Cardiff $234
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Cardiff
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Cardiff? 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 Cardiff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Cardiff $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- AirPort & Sea Ferry Transfer Zone: $47
- Airport - Hotels Transfer all over the Zanzibar Island: $60
- Airport Pick-up Transfer To any Hotel In Zanzibar: $30
- Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Departures: $55
- Airport Transfer to Beach Hotel: $65
- Airport Transfer to any hotel in Zanzibar: $55
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Airport transfer to Nugwi, Paje and Kiwengwa Hotels : $45
- Airport/Hotel Transfer: $25
- Airport/port Transfer : $70
- Arrival Private Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Island by Luxury Car: $125
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport to Nungwi Beach Zanzibar: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport CWL to Cardiff by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Bristol Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $13
- Cardiff Airport (CWL): Transfer to Cardiff Accommodation: $140
- Cardiff Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport to City centre: $79
- Cardiff to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Departure Private Transfer from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport CWL by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $16
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Private Cardiff Arrival Transfer- Airport to Hotel / Accommodation : $58
- Private Cardiff Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport: $58
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Cardiff?
Prices for flights to both Cardiff 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 $17Cardiff $55
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 $13Cardiff $31
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 Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ghosts of Llandaff Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cardiff’s Bay and Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Bay and Barrage: $5.99
- A Journey through Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cardiff's Civic Centre: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Ghosts of Llandaff: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Essential Caerphilly: Explore the town’s history on a self-guided audio tour: $6.22
- Uncover Ghostly Chester: In-App Audio Tour of Eerie Tales: $11
- Uncover Spectral Secrets with the Llandaff Ghosts Audio Tour: $11
- Discover Cardiff's Waterfront: In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Llanberis, Conwy and Caernarfon Castle: A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Snowdonia: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Cardiff $16
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 Cardiff
Also in Cardiff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery: $32
- Cardiff Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Cardiff, we can see that Cardiff 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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cardiff 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 Cardiff Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Cardiff?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Cardiff. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Cardiff, 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 Cardiff?
Cardiff 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 Cardiff in the Summer?
Both Cardiff 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 visitors come to Cardiff in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Cardiff. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Cardiff fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It's quite sunny in Cardiff. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cardiff during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Cardiff receives 220 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Cardiff. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Cardiff receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Cardiff 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Cardiff in the Autumn?
Both Cardiff 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cardiff for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Cardiff in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Cardiff fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Cardiff. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cardiff receives 95 hours of full sun.
Cardiff gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Cardiff. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cardiff receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Cardiff 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Cardiff in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Cardiff. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Cardiff because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Cardiff can be very cold. In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Cardiff. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Cardiff averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Cardiff during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Cardiff receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Cardiff. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cardiff receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Cardiff 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Cardiff in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Cardiff. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Cardiff. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Cardiff fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Cardiff. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cardiff receives 183 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar receives a lot of rain in the spring. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Cardiff. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Cardiff receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Cardiff 9°C (48°F)
Typical Weather for Cardiff and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Cardiff | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 80 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 96 mm (3.8 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.