Which place is cheaper, Dubrovnik or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Dubrovnik?
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 Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik?
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.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Dubrovnik $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Dubrovnik is $103. 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 Dubrovnik in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Dubrovnik $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Dubrovnik $106
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Dubrovnik
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Dubrovnik? 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 Dubrovnik Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Dubrovnik $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- From Mystery Day Safari with Transfer: $500
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Daressalam with two way transfers : $260
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar Airport to Kiwengwa: $200
- Safari blue tour with Lunch and Transfers: $180
- Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise with Transfers.: $149
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
- Private Return Transfer From Zanzibar Airport To Paje: $140
- Off-Road Quad Bike Adventure with hotel transfer: $138
- Arrival Private Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Island by Luxury Car: $125
- Departure Private Transfer from Island to Zanzibar Airport ZNZ by Luxury Sedan: $125
- Ferry Zanzibar :Transfer services: $120
- Jozani Forest and Spice Farm Tour With Transfer: $110
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
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Bus Around Town$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Private Transfer Dubrovnik: $27
- Airport Transfer Dubrovnik Town to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $251
- Airport Transfer Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $262
- Arrival Private Transfer from Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik City by Minivan: $59
- Arrival Private Transfers: Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik in Luxury Van: $54
- Budva to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $205
- Bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi: $23
- Departure Private Transfer from Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Minivan: $55
- Departure Private Transfer: Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Business Car: $36
- Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) to Dubrovnik - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) to Dubrovnik Cruise Port Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Dubrovnik Airport (DBV): Private Transfer to Dubrovnik: $182
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Dubrovnik?
Prices for flights to both Dubrovnik 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 $17Dubrovnik $35
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
Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise around the Old Town: $81
- Gastro Cruise | Dinner and Boat ride around Dubrovnik Old Town: $82
- Secrets of traditional Dalmatian cuisine with a cooking class: $128
- Old Town Food Tour: $144
- Dubrovnik Old Town Food Tour: Small-Group Experience: $147
- Konavle Wine& History&food Tour: $166
- Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region: $179
- Traditional Dalmatian Cooking Class from Dubrovnik: $199
- Traditional Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside: $203
- Authentic Garden to Table Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside : $208
- Pelješac Full-Day Wine and Food Tour from Dubrovnik: $210
- Private Dinner with Wine and Homemade Tapas: $215
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Dubrovnik $20
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Spice Tour & Mangapwani Cave Tour: $80
- Stone City, Spice Farm and Prison Island Full Day Tour: $130
- Stonetown Private Half-day Walking Tour: $35
- Zanzibar Spice Tour : $47
- 10 DAYS MOSHI TO ZANZIBAR BIKE TOUR: $4,286
- 2day Zanzibar adventure: Prison Island & Sandbank (all-incl): $538
- 3 HOURS PRISON ISLAND TOUR IN ZANZIBAR: $60
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $30
- 3-Day Selous Game Reserve Safari & Cultural tour with Flight: $1,345
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island : $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)$14
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)$56
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)$48
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Selfguided tour of the old town of Dubrovnik: $5.38
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.46
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Medieval Adventure City Game: $6.99
- Time Travel Adventure Outdoor Escape Game in Dubrovnik: $7.12
- Shell Museum Private Guided Tour: $7.68
- Historic Center Self-Guided Audio Tour (ENG): $7.70
- Old Town Highlights Tour with Audio Guide: $8.61
- Private Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour in Dubrovnik Old Town: $8.74
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town: $8.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Dubrovnik $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
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $49
- Brewery Tour with Food included: $60
- Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $70
- From Korcula Island Tour with Wine Tasting: $74
- Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $75
- Interactive Wine Tour: $81
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting: $84
- Konavle Valley Wine Tour from Dubrovnik with Train Ride and Wine Tasting: $84
- Interactive Wine Tour in Dubrovnik: $89
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting in Dubrovnik Old Town : $89
- 2-Hour Kayaking at Sunset with Wine Tasting and Appetizers: $93
- E-Bike Tour + Gourmet Snack + Wine Tasting (Small Group): $97
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Dubrovnik, we can see that Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Dubrovnik?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Dubrovnik, 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 Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik in the Summer?
Both Dubrovnik 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Dubrovnik in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Dubrovnik in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Dubrovnik fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in July than Dubrovnik. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Dubrovnik 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Dubrovnik in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Dubrovnik. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Dubrovnik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Dubrovnik. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Dubrovnik averages at about 18°C (64°F).
Dubrovnik receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Dubrovnik. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Dubrovnik 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Dubrovnik in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Dubrovnik. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Dubrovnik because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Dubrovnik. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Dubrovnik fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
It's quite rainy in Dubrovnik. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in January than Dubrovnik. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Dubrovnik 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Dubrovnik in the Spring?
Both Dubrovnik and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Dubrovnik this time of year.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Dubrovnik in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Dubrovnik fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Dubrovnik. It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Dubrovnik. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Dubrovnik 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Dubrovnik and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Dubrovnik | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 178 mm (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.