Which place is cheaper, Lima or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Lima?
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 Lima 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 Lima?
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.
Lima
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
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 Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Lima $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Lima is $76. 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 Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Lima $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Lima $98
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Lima? 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 Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Lima $5.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar transfer and taxi services: $15
- Departure Private Transfer from Island to Zanzibar Airport ZNZ by Standard Van: $17
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer ( Tax) To Stone Town: $19
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Stone Town Hotels to the Airport: $20
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Private Transfer from Abeid Amani Karume Airport to Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $20
- Zanzibar Shared Departure Transfer: $21
- Zanzibar Airport transfers and Taxi services: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
- Airport Transfers: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.37
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Taxi Ride$5.37
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Short Taxi Ride$4.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
- Assistance /Transfer Hotel - Airport Lima Airport : $40
- Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
- From The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $56
- J.Chavez Airport to Miraflores City Hotels- Round Trip Transfer: $41
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer : $31
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $61
- Jorge Chavez International Airport: Private Transfer: $25
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $134
- Lima : Private transfer between airport to your destination: $29
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima 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 $17Lima $17
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 Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.30
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Ice cream$3.49
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Coffee$2.95
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Donut$0.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Market Food Tour: $33
- Lima Market Food Tour: $34
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $40
- Ceviche Cooking Class Including Pisco Sour Lesson: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $45
- Lima Food Tour: $45
- Street Food Tour in Miraflores District: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with Dinner: $47
- Private Cooking Class With a Local Family in Lima: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Lima $8.57
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Africa's Paradises Full Sightseeing Package Tours: $15
- Easy Stone Town Tour: $20
- Stone Town tour: $20
- Stone Town Historical Walking Tour: $20
- Zanzibar Stone Town Historical City Tour: $20
- Stone town walking tour ( City tour): $23
- Stone Town Tour without transport: $24
- Stone Town Private Walking Tour: $25
- Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Zanzibar Tours & Taxi Services : $25
- Stonetown City (Walking Tour): $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
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Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)$16
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Movie Tickets$2.28
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Free Walking Tour of Lima: $2.00
- Peru's Best Bike Experience since 2014 - 4 Hours Hire: $9.90
- Customize your trip to Peru with Lima Experience: $12
- bike tour: $12
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $13
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Barranco Street Art Tour: $17
- Party tour Fridays Barranco / Saturdays Miraflores: $18
- Private Beach Guided Bike Tour in Lima : $19
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $20
- Lima Downtown Tour from Miraflores in 3 hrs: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Lima $5.57
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 Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$7.23
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Beer$4.03
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Cocktail$3.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $12
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $18
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Party Tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl and Drinks: $18
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $25
- Local Wine Tour : $39
- Local Wine Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Lima, we can see that Lima 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 Lima is in South America, 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 Lima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lima 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 Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Lima, 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 Lima?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Lima in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Lima. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Lima during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Lima. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in October than Lima. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Lima. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun.
In October, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Lima. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Lima during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Lima. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Lima. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.