Which place is cheaper, Edinburgh or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Edinburgh?
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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh?
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.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
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 Edinburgh, and The Best 10-Day Tours from London.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Edinburgh $178
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Edinburgh is $178. 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 Edinburgh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Edinburgh $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Edinburgh $186
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Edinburgh
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Edinburgh? 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 Edinburgh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Edinburgh $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- transfer from airport to Makunduchi Zanzibar: $44
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
- Zanzibar:Hotels & Airport Transfer Services: $50
- Stone Town to Airport Private Transfer: $23
- Safari blue tour with Lunch and Transfers: $180
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town: $23
- Private Airport Transfer: $50
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $50
- Jozani Forest and Spice Farm Tour With Transfer: $110
- Island Transfers: $50
- Fishing Boat Tour with Transfer: $109
- Baraka Turtle Aquarium Tour with Hotel Transfers: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus$4.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to/from Edinburgh City, St'Andrews etc.: $113
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Business Car: $135
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Car: $163
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Van: $163
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $135
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Van: $163
- Arrival Transfer Edinburgh Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Minivan: $96
- Central Edinburgh Hotels to Edinburgh Airport Transfers 1-3: $256
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Glasgow - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kinbuck - Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kinbuck - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $206
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Lecht Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Edinburgh?
Prices for flights to both Edinburgh 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 $17Edinburgh $49
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 Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$11
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Dinner at Filling Station$13
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Lunch for Two$19
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Sandwich$2.32
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Cheese & bread$9.07
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)$31
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2 Coffees and Scones$7.28
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Turkish Delight$1.76
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Soup at the Pub$7.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $88
- Edinburgh Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Food Tour: $100
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $121
- The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh With Locals: Private Food Tour: $162
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $188
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Edinburgh $25
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 Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets$40
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Movie Tickets for Two$15
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Donation for Storytellers$7.53
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.77
- Edinburgh Stand Up Comedy Ticket Show in Scotland: $5.08
- Audio Tour Royal Mile: del Castillo hasta "The Tron Kirk": $5.37
- Edinbourgh, Royal mile: walking tour with audio guide: $5.38
- Edinburgh Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $5.60
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Audio Tour through History of Crime: $7.00
- Edinburgh Royal mile: Self-guided walking tour: $7.20
- Must-See In App Audio Tour: $7.61
- Harry Potter’s A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour) : $8.02
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Edinburgh $19
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine$18
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern$2.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Edinburgh, we can see that Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh?
Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Edinburgh. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.
In July, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 163 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Edinburgh. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Edinburgh 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Edinburgh in the Autumn?
Both Edinburgh and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Edinburgh for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Edinburgh in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Edinburgh. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Edinburgh 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Edinburgh in the Winter?
Both Edinburgh and Zanzibar during the winter 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 Edinburgh in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Edinburgh can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Edinburgh. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 3°C (38°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 48 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Edinburgh. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Edinburgh 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Edinburgh in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Edinburgh. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, most visitors come to Edinburgh for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
Zanzibar gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Edinburgh. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Edinburgh 7°C (45°F)
Typical Weather for Edinburgh and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Edinburgh | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.