Which place is cheaper, Hvar or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Hvar?
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 Hvar 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 Hvar?
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.
Hvar
Hvar is a Croatian island full of mountains, vegetation, beaches, vineyards, shops, restaurants, and also people! Hvar Town is the main city on the island, but there are many other small villages throughout. The best time to visit Hvar is between May and September, although keep in mind it can get busy during this period.
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 in Croatia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Croatia.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesHvar Prices
Croatia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Hvar $237
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Hvar is $237. 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 Hvar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Hvar $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Hvar $186
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Hvar
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Hvar? 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 Hvar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Hvar $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $16
- Premium Private Transfer in Zanzibar – Airport, Hotels, Beaches: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Hotel Transfer Private Taxi Service: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer and Island Shuttle Service: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Private Transfer from Abeid Amani Karume Airport to Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer Private Taxi to Hotels in Zanzibar: $20
- Private Zanzibar Airport Transfer: $20
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town and Beyond: $20
- Airport Taxi and Hotel Transfer Service in Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Zanzibar Aiport transfer services: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Hvar?
Prices for flights to both Hvar 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 $28Hvar $109
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Zanzi Nights Stone Town Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $45
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Zanzibar Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $50
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class and Spice Farm: $59
- Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class: $69
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Cooking Class Tour: $75
- Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
- Zanzibar Spice and Night Market Cooking and Street Food Tour: $80
- 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $97
- A Half Day Private Cooking Class At the Spice Farm: $107
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hvar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hvar.
- Hvar Hidden Gems Small Group Half Day Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $200
- Private Hvar Wine Tasting Tour with Traditional Dinner or Lunch: $286
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Hvar $21
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Podcast Tour Zanzibar City The Black Gold and the Broken Chains: $5.48
- Private Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Tour: $14
- Zanzibar Private Spice Farm Tour With Optional Lunch: $17
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $17
- Stone Town Private Tour in Zanzibar: $17
- Stone Town tour: $18
- Stone Town Guided Walking Tour: Shopping, Culture & History: $18
- Zanzibar Stone Town Private Walking Tour With Old Slave Market: $18
- Stone Town Hidden Gems: Historical Walking Tour with Local Guide: $20
- Stone Town Walking Tour Explore Zanzibar's Historical Heart: $20
- Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise with Traditional Drums and Fruits: $20
- Zanzibar Spice Tour to Mussa Village: $20
Tours and Activities in Hvar
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hvar are as follows:
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Hvar’s Historical Old Town: $15
- 1-Hour Battle Archery Game in Hvar Adventure Park: $23
- Private Multi-Activity Experience in Adventure Park Hvar Jelsa: $26
- Local Delicacies Tasting Experience in Hvar Town: $31
- 1-Hour Private Paintball Adventure in Park Hvar Jelsa: $31
- Stand Up Paddle school - learn to SUP and make your first SUP tour: $34
- Timeless Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide: $43
- Sunset Boat Tour with unlimited wine,drinks & Music at Stari Grad: $46
- Private Half-Day Kayak Experience in Hvar and Pakleni Islands: $58
- Lavender Fields & Villages: Private E-Bike Tour with Swim Stop: $70
- Experience Romantic Sunset Sailing on a modern 36ft (11m) sail yacht | Hvar: $74
- Boat Tour at Delfina Hvar: $83
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.76Hvar $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Hvar
Also in Hvar, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Round Trip from Hvar Family Winery at a Hilltop: $89
- Private Hvar Island Bike Tour and Wine Tasting: $112
- Hvar Wine tasting small group experience: $132
- Sunset E Bike Tour and Wine Tasting on Hvar Island: $142
- Wine Tasting Tour: $164
- Exclusive Hvar Wine Tour with Scenic Views and Local Wines: $171
- Private Hvar Wine Tasting Tour: $194
- Stari Grad Private Tuk Tuk Tour with Wine Tasting: $251
- The Best of Hvar Small Group with Wine Tasting and Local meal: $291
- From Split: Private Blue Lagoon & Pakleni with Wine Tasting: $2,567
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Hvar, we can see that Hvar 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 Hvar 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 Hvar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hvar 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 Hvar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Hvar?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Hvar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Hvar, 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 Hvar?
Hvar 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 Hvar in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Hvar. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hvar this time of year.
In July, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Hvar. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Hvar fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hvar this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Hvar during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Hvar receives 345 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Hvar. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Hvar receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Hvar 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Hvar in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Hvar. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Hvar for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than Hvar in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Hvar fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hvar. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Hvar. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hvar receives 200 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Hvar. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Hvar receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Hvar 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Hvar in the Winter?
Both Hvar and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Hvar in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Hvar. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Hvar averages at about 8°C (47°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Hvar during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Hvar receives 128 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hvar. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Hvar receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Hvar 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Hvar in the Spring?
Both Hvar and Zanzibar during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Hvar for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Hvar. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Hvar fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In Hvar, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Hvar. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hvar receives 212 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Hvar. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Hvar receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Hvar 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Hvar and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Hvar | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.