Which place is cheaper, London or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or London?
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 London 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 London?
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.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
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 United Kingdom, and The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51London $238
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in London is $238. 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 London in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24London $154
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48London $308
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and London
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or London? 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 London Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11London $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- From Mystery Day Safari with Transfer: $500
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Daressalam with two way transfers : $260
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar Airport to Kiwengwa: $200
- Safari blue tour with Lunch and Transfers: $180
- Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise with Transfers.: $149
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
- Off-Road Quad Bike Adventure with hotel transfer: $138
- Arrival Private Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Island by Luxury Car: $125
- Departure Private Transfer from Island to Zanzibar Airport ZNZ by Luxury Sedan: $125
- Ferry Zanzibar :Transfer services: $120
- Jozani Forest and Spice Farm Tour With Transfer: $110
- Fishing Boat Tour with Transfer: $109
Typical Local Transportation Prices in London
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:
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Taxi Ride$18
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Heathrow Express$23
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Luggage Storage$10
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London Map$1.62
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Oyster Card$45
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Train to Gatwick Airport (2)$27
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Oyster Card$34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chauffeur Car Transfer Services from London To Gatwick Airport: $292
- Chauffeur Limo Transfer Services from Heathrow Airport To London: $229
- "Private Group Transfer: Heathrow Airport to City of London": $173
- "Private Transfer: Heathrow Airport to Central London Hotel": $70
- "Private Transfer: Heathrow Airport to Dover Cruise Port": $147
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Bath".: $163
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Bournemouth".: $153
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Cambridge.": $107
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Crawley.": $94
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Dorking.": $83
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Dorking.": $82
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Guildford.": $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or London?
Prices for flights to both London 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 $17London $43
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 London
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:
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Lunch at Starbucks$16
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Tea$7.53
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Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason$49
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Morning Tea$7.97
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Pastry$6.27
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Sushi Dinner for One$23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Borough Market Self-guided food tour: $5.76
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $35
- Picadilly Circus: Hard Rock Cafe Set Menu Lunch or Dinner: $36
- Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $38
- Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Pizza Making Cookery Class: $53
- No Diet Club - Best food Tour in East London: $68
- African & Caribbean Food Tour in Multi-Cultural Brixton: $74
- Borough Bites, The London Food Tour: $74
- Borough Market Flavors of London Food Tour: $74
- Plant Power - Vegan Food Tour: $88
- Traditional English Walking Food Tour With London Food Tours: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13London $41
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Two Tickets to a Concert$104
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London Symphony Orchestra$43
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London Pass$59
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Comedy Show$10
Tours and Activities in London
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.
- London's Hidden Gems Self Guided City Tour: $3.26
- London Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.28
- Harry Potter Movie Locations Self Walking Tour: $3.77
- Jack the Ripper Self Guided Audio Tour in London: $4.91
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in London: $5.45
- Soho's Contribution to Health Care History Walking Audio Tour: $5.48
- Bloomsbury's Contribution to Health Care History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.48
- Covent Garden: A Self-Guided Photography Tour : $5.54
- Brick Lane: A self-guided audio tour of East London's vibrant jewel: $5.54
- Camden Town's Quirky Characters: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.54
- London Lights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Cultural Capital of the World: $5.54
- Secret An audio tour about the heritage of the city's Russian immigrants: $5.54
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86London $19
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
Sample the Local Flavors in London
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:
- Self Guided Audio Tour in London Old Pub Crawl: $7.63
- Fun London Pub Crawl Treasure Hunt with 20% off ALL drinks!: $13
- 2-Hour Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $20
- Haunted London Pub Walking Tour: $20
- 1 Big Night Out Weekday Pub Crawl: $24
- Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting of 4 Beers: $25
- Shoreditch Pub Crawl in London: $25
- Guided Historic Pub Tour (London): $27
- Pub Crawl of Central London: $29
- Camden Pub Crawl & Bar Tour London: $31
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $31
- Burlesque Cabaret Show in Covent Garden: $31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and London, we can see that London 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 London 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London 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 London Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or London?
London has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and London, 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 London?
London 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 London in the Summer?
Both London and Zanzibar during the summer 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 London for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than London in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and London fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than London. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while London receives 195 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than London. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while London receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)London 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or London in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and London. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to London because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is much warmer than London. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and London averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than London during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while London receives 107 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than London. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while London receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)London 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or London in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as London. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to London this time of year.
It's quite cold in London in the winter. In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than London. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and London fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than London. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while London receives 52 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than London. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while London receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)London 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or London in the Spring?
Both London and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to London for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Zanzibar is much warmer than London in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and London fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as London during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while London receives 147 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than London. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while London receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)London 9°C (48°F)
Typical Weather for London and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | London | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 57 mm (2.2 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.