A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zanzibar vs. Doha for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zanzibar or Doha?

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 Doha 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 Doha?

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.

Doha

Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, and The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania.


Which place is cheaper, Doha or Zanzibar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Doha is $200. 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 Doha in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zanzibar $24
    Doha $119
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zanzibar $48
    Doha $238
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Doha

Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Doha? 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.

Hotels in Zanzibar


Hotels in Doha


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 Doha Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zanzibar $11
    Doha $23

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 Doha

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:

  • Airport Transfer-Hamad International Airport, Doha-Qatar: $34
  • Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Car: $108
  • Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $120
  • BF Doha | Hamad Int. Airport Transfer Meet & Greet: $68
  • Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $120
  • Doha Airport Transfers: Your Swift Gateway to Luxury Travel: $50
  • Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
  • Doha Night City Tour With Airport Transfer: $62
  • Doha Night Desert Safari Camel Ride Dune Bashing with Transfer: $93
  • Doha Stopover/Layover Tour: 4 Hours City Tour with Transfer: $80
  • Airport Transfer (To and From Doha City): $35
  • Guided City Highlights Tour with Roundtrip Transfer: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Doha?

Prices for flights to both Doha 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Zanzibar $17
    Doha $61

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 Doha

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.

  • Private Dinner on Al Safliya Island: $76
  • Private Souk Waqif with Lunch or Dinner Tour: $96
  • The Pearl-Qatar Food Tour & Boat Ride: $119
  • Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $143
  • BBQ Dinner in the desert resort; Dune bashing & camel ride: $165
  • Doha Private Full Day Desert Safari Lunch | Dinner Included: $190
  • Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride: $195
  • Doha : Full Day Desert Safari | BBQ Dinner | Inland sea: $197
  • Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch/Dinner at Souk Al Wakra: $202
  • Full Day Desert Private Safari with Lunch or Dinner: $214
  • Private Overnight Desert Safari, Dune bashing, dinner & Breakfast: $220
  • From Overnight Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner: $240

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zanzibar $13
    Doha $18

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
  • Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
  • Zanzibar Tours & Taxi Services : $25
  • Stonetown City (Walking Tour): $25

Tours and Activities in Doha

Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Doha International Airpor: Qatar eSIM Data Plan for Tourists: $8.07
  • Qatar eSIM Data Plan for Tourists: $8.07
  • Al Safliya Island Boat Tour: $25
  • Guided Walking Tour of Souq Waqif: $30
  • City Highlights Layover Tour: $32
  • From Doha Cruise Terminal: Doha City Tour (Private Tour): $35
  • Doha Geocaching & City Tour Combo: $35
  • City Highlights Sharing Tour: $35
  • From Doha Cruise Terminal: Doha Private or Group City Tour: $35
  • 4-hour Downtown City Tour: $40
  • Doha : Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide (Private Tou: $43
  • Doha City Tour - Airport or Cruise Terminal Pick Up/Drop Off: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zanzibar $6.86
    Doha $15

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 Doha, we can see that Doha 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 Doha is in Middle East, 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha 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 Doha Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Doha?

Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Doha, 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.