Which place is cheaper, Helsinki or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Helsinki?
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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki?
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.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Helsinki $149
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Helsinki is $149. 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 Helsinki in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Helsinki $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Helsinki $156
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Helsinki
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Helsinki? 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 Helsinki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Helsinki $24
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 Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Helsinki airport HEL to Helsinki by luxury van: $76
- Arrival Transfer: Airport HEL to Helsinki in Business Car: $97
- Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by business car: $64
- Guided Tallinn Day Tour from Helsinki / Include hotel transfers: $218
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotel Round-Trip Transfer: $83
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotels - Arrival Transfer: $41
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
- Helsinki Airport (HEL): One-Way Transfer to/from Helsinki: $145
- Helsinki Airport (HEL): Transfer to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $130
- Helsinki Airport VIP Transfers: Exclusive Comfort&Efficiency: $135
- Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $82
- Helsinki Private Transfer: $158
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Helsinki?
Prices for flights to both Helsinki 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 $17Helsinki $37
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 Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD Tour with Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $107
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $108
- Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Helsinki $29
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 Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tip-Based City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $2.15
- Free Evening Helsinki Tour - A Walk through Centuries: $2.61
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Tip-based Free Walking Tour Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA TOURS: $5.13
- Escape Game and Tour: $7.00
- Helsinki Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $7.00
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Helsinki's Historical Highlights: $7.99
- Temppeliaukio Church Entrance Ticket: $8.61
- From Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna: $8.70
- Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Suomenlinna: Museum Ticket: $9.69
- Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Helsinki $17
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 Helsinki, we can see that Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Helsinki?
Helsinki has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Helsinki, 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 Helsinki?
Helsinki 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 Helsinki in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Helsinki. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year.
In July, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Helsinki. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Helsinki fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Helsinki. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Helsinki. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Helsinki receives 275 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Helsinki. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Helsinki 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Helsinki in the Autumn?
Both Helsinki 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 Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Helsinki in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Helsinki fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Helsinki during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Helsinki receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Helsinki. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Helsinki 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Helsinki in the Winter?
Both Helsinki 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 Helsinki in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Helsinki can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Helsinki. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Helsinki averages at about -6°C (21°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Helsinki. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Helsinki receives 39 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Helsinki. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Helsinki -6°C (21°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Helsinki in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Helsinki. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, most visitors come to Helsinki for the natural beauty during these months.
Helsinki can be very cold during spring. In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Helsinki. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Helsinki fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Helsinki during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Helsinki receives 183 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 Helsinki. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Helsinki 3°C (37°F)
Typical Weather for Helsinki and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Helsinki | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 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.