Which place is cheaper, Glasgow or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Glasgow?
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 Glasgow 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 Glasgow?
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.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the biggest city in Scotland with a population of about 600,000 and more than 2 million in the surrounding areas. It is located on the edge of River Clyde and has long been acclaimed as Scotland's main industrial city. It remains a major economic center for the United Kingdom outside of London. In recent years it has also been awarded the European titles as both the City of Culture as well as the City of Architecture and Design.
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 Edinburgh, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Glasgow $181
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Glasgow is $181. 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 Glasgow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Glasgow $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Glasgow $186
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Glasgow
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Glasgow? 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 Glasgow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Glasgow $34
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Glasgow
Also for Glasgow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport and Glasgow Centre Private Transfer to Oban: $314
- Departure Private Transfer Glasgow City to Glasgow GLA Airport by Business Car: $93
- Departure Private Transfer Glasgow City to Glasgow GLA Airport by Luxury Car: $139
- Departure Private Transfers: Glasgow City to Glasgow Airport GLA in Business Car: $98
- Executive transfer Glasgow/Edinburgh: $276
- From Private Day Trip to Edinburgh with Transfers: $840
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Edinburgh: $214
- Glasgow Airport (GLA) to Glenshee Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $104
- Glasgow Airport Transfer: Glasgow Airport GLA to Glasgow City in Luxury Van: $145
- Glasgow Airport Transfer: Glasgow City to Glasgow Airport GLA in Luxury Van: $145
- Glasgow Airport to Lecht Ski Resort - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $154
- Glasgow Private Transfer from Glasgow Airport to City centre: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Glasgow?
Prices for flights to both Glasgow 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 $17Glasgow $56
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 Glasgow
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Glasgow:
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Dessert at Farmer's Market$2.26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Glasgow
For Glasgow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Glasgow Walking Food Tour with EatWalk Tours: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Glasgow $28
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 Glasgow
For Glasgow, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Luss Highland Games Entrance Fee (for 2)$15
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Two Bike Rental$43
Tours and Activities in Glasgow
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Glasgow.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $4.31
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.31
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Glasgow Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Uncover Historic In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Discover Glasgow's Imperial Legacy: In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- City Center Guided Walking Tour: $15
- Glasgow City Centre Daily Walking Tour: 10:30am, 2pm & 5pm: $15
- Private Historical Walking Tour: $16
- Street Art Guided Walking Tour: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Glasgow $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 Glasgow
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Glasgow:
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Bottle of Wine$15
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Ciders at Kilted Skirlie$4.39
Sample the Local Flavors in Glasgow
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Glasgow:
- Clydeside Distillery Tour and Whisky Tasting: $23
- Tennent’s Brewery Guided Tour and Free Pint: $24
- Secrets & Summer Serves at Glengoyne Distillery: $25
- Glengoyne Distillery Tour with Whisky & Chocolate: $44
- Glasgow Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $44
- Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond Walk & Whisky Distillery Tour from Glasgow : $70
- Sample Fine & Rare Whiskies at Glengoyne Distillery: $75
- The Malt Master Experience at Glengoyne Distillery: $125
- Scottish Whisky Distillery Tour: $187
- Guided Electric Bike Tour with a Distillery Visit: $188
- Pints & Past: Glasgow Pub Tour: $459
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Glasgow, we can see that Glasgow 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 Glasgow 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 Glasgow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Glasgow 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 Glasgow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Glasgow?
Glasgow has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Glasgow, 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 Glasgow?
Glasgow 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 Glasgow in the Summer?
Both Glasgow 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. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Glasgow because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Glasgow in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Glasgow fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Glasgow. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Glasgow receives 159 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Glasgow. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Glasgow receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Glasgow 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Glasgow in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Glasgow. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Glasgow this time of year.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is much warmer than Glasgow. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Glasgow averages at about 10°C (49°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Glasgow during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Glasgow receives 69 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Glasgow receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Glasgow. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Glasgow receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Glasgow 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Glasgow in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Glasgow. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Glasgow for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Glasgow. In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Glasgow. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Glasgow fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Glasgow. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Glasgow receives 40 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Glasgow. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in January than Glasgow. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Glasgow receives 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Glasgow 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Glasgow in the Spring?
Both Glasgow 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, many visitors come to Glasgow in the spring for the activities around the city.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Glasgow in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Glasgow fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Glasgow during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Glasgow receives 134 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Glasgow. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Glasgow receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Glasgow 7°C (45°F)
Typical Weather for Glasgow and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Glasgow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 136 mm (5.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 164 mm (6.5 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.