Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Gothenburg?
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 Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg?
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.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Gothenburg $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is $98. 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 Gothenburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Gothenburg $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Gothenburg $80
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Gothenburg
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Gothenburg? 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 Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Gothenburg $18
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Gothenburg Airport Transfers : Gothenburg to Airport GOT in Luxury Van: $153
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $111
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $176
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $120
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Stockholm: $509
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Gothenburg?
Prices for flights to both Gothenburg 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 $17Gothenburg $38
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Gothenburg $16
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
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $37
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Gothenburg $21
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 Gothenburg, we can see that Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Gothenburg?
Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg?
Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Gothenburg. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Gothenburg in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Gothenburg fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Gothenburg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Gothenburg. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Gothenburg. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Gothenburg in the Autumn?
Both Gothenburg and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 9°C (47°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Gothenburg in the Winter?
Both Gothenburg 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.
The weather in Gothenburg can be very cold. In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Gothenburg. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Gothenburg. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Gothenburg 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)Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Gothenburg in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Gothenburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Gothenburg in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Gothenburg fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Gothenburg during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 182 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 Gothenburg. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Gothenburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.