Which place is cheaper, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam 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.
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.
Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Photography Tours in Tanzania, and The Best Camping Tours in Tanzania.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $60, while the average daily cost in Dar es Salaam is $435. 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 Dar es Salaam in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Dar es Salaam 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
For Dar es Salaam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zanzibar:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Zanzibar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam Expensive?.
Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, 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.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Both Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar during the summer 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 Dar es Salaam year-round.
Zanzibar usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Dar es Salaam receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Dar es Salaam, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dar es Salaam receives 224 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Dar es Salaam. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Dar es Salaam averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Dar es Salaam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Dar es Salaam receives 275 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Dar es Salaam. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Dar es Salaam fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dar es Salaam throughout the year.
Zanzibar usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Dar es Salaam receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dar es Salaam receives 236 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Dar es Salaam in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Dar es Salaam fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Dar es Salaam because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Dar es Salaam receives 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Dar es Salaam during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Dar es Salaam receives 155 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Dar es Salaam. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Dar es Salaam averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Zanzibar | Dar es Salaam | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) |
May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |