Should you visit Zanzibar or Jakarta?
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 Jakarta 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 Jakarta?
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.
Jakarta
As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia.
Which place is cheaper, Jakarta or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Jakarta is $69. 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 Jakarta in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Jakarta? 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
Jakarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
-
Zanzibar Must-see Sights with Lunch and Transfers:
$249
-
Luxury Zanzibar Airport Transfer in Toyota Land Cruiser Prado:
$220
-
Arrival Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Zanzibar by Luxury Car:
$211
-
Zanzibar Golf Adventure in Paradise with Hotel Transfer:
$148
-
Private Nakupenda Beach Day with Seafood Lunch and Transfers:
$126
-
Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Kizimkazi:
$99
-
Private Transfer from Makunduchi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport:
$99
-
Private Transfer from Kizimkazi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport:
$99
-
Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Makunduchi:
$99
-
Airport Transfer:
$90
-
Zanzibar Ferry Terminal Arrival Transfers.:
$90
-
Jet Ski to Zanzibar with photos and video and transfer included:
$90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Transfer:
$30
-
Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ):
$30
-
Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor:
$27
-
All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer:
$15
-
Asha Island Day Trip from Jakarta Beach Canoeing and Transfer:
$204
-
Easy & Simple Transfer Airport Jakarta:
$17
-
Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Bandung/Lembang Arrival Transfer:
$71
-
Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Cipanas - Arrival Private Transfer:
$53
-
Jakarta Airport Transfer Service:
$20
-
Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group:
$28
-
Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta Airport CGK to Jakarta City in Business Van:
$105
-
Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK in Business Van:
$105
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Jakarta?
Prices for flights to both Jakarta 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Zanzibar $28
Jakarta $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
-
Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class:
$49
-
Zanzibar Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class:
$50
-
Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour:
$59
-
Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar:
$60
-
Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar:
$60
-
Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour:
$68
-
Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class:
$69
-
Zanzibar Cooking Lesson:
$70
-
Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour:
$75
-
Zanzibar Spice & Night Market: Cooking & Street Food Tour:
$80
-
Cooking Class Tour:
$90
-
5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar:
$100
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
-
Dinner
$2.49
-
Dinner
$0.68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Mangga Besar Food Tour:
$49
-
Kota Tua Food Tour:
$64
-
Melawai Night Street Food Tour:
$67
-
Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir:
$120
-
Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour:
$120
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
2 Days Tour In Zanzibar:
$180
-
2 Hours Private Stone Town City Tour:
$50
-
2 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar:
$270
-
3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour:
$20
-
3inONE, Private Spice, Stone Town & Prison Island Tours:
$120
-
5 HOURS Stone Town Tour Including Pick-up and Drop off:
$70
-
A Half Day Private Dolphins And Snorkeling Tour To Mnemba Island:
$95
-
A Half Day Private Stone Town Tour:
$85
-
A Half Day Private Tour To Jozani Forest:
$87
-
A Private Full Day Tour To Stone Town & Spice Farm:
$90
-
A Stone Town Private Tour Experience in Zanzibar:
$35
-
Blue Lagoon, Starfish Adventure, The Rock Restaurant, Spice Tour, Secret Garden:
$135
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
-
Ancol Entrance Gate Entry Ticket:
$4.03
-
Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.20
-
Atlantis Water Adventures at Ancol Entry Ticket:
$9.67
-
Jakarta Tour Guide:
$25
-
Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience:
$27
-
Jakarta Aquarium Safari Admission Ticket:
$32
-
Jakarta Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide:
$37
-
Experience Jakarta Street Food Scene with MRT Transportation:
$40
-
Highlights of Jakarta City : Half-Day Tour All around Jakarta:
$41
-
3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places):
$45
-
Jakarta Half Day Visit The Monument with Highlight City Tour:
$45
-
Jakarta Half Day Shared Guided Tour Visit Monument and Old Town:
$47
When comparing the travel costs between Zanzibar and Jakarta, we can see that Jakarta is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Zanzibar is in Africa and Jakarta is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zanzibar Expensive? and Is Jakarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Jakarta?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Jakarta, 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.
Related Articles for Zanzibar
Related Articles for Jakarta