A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zanzibar vs. Manchester for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zanzibar or Manchester?

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 Manchester 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 Manchester?

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.

Manchester

Located in the heart of Northern England, Manchester is the unofficial Capital of the North. Though it dates back as a Roman city, the city boomed in growth during the Industrial Revolution in textiles, and is today one of the most-visited cities in England by overseas travelers.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom.


Which place is cheaper, Manchester or Zanzibar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Manchester is $230. 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 Manchester in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zanzibar $24
    Manchester $89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zanzibar $48
    Manchester $178
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Manchester

Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Manchester? 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.

Hotels in Zanzibar


Hotels in Manchester


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 Manchester Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zanzibar $11
    Manchester $24

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
  • Private Return Transfer From Zanzibar Airport To Paje: $140
  • 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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Manchester

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Manchester are as follows:


  • Rail to Airport
    $14
  • Parking in Manchester
    $3.76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manchester

Also for Manchester, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Manchester Airport to Blackpool City: $256
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Manchester Airport MAN to Liverpool in Business Car: $121
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Manchester Airport MAN to Manchester in Business Car: $117
  • Manchester Airport (MAN) to Manchester - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $116
  • Manchester Airport (MAN): Private Transfer to Liverpool City: $251
  • Manchester Airport (MAN): Private Transfer to Manchester: $156
  • Manchester Airport to Lake District Ski Club - Arrival Transfer: $44
  • Manchester Airport: BUS Transfer to/from London: $8.16
  • Manchester Private Transfer from Manchester Airport to City centre: $76
  • 1-Wsy Airport Bus Transfer to/from Leeds: $6.89
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer From Manchester Airport to Old Trafford Stadium: $280
  • Private Transfer Manchester Airport to Lake District Ski Club: $88

Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Manchester?

Prices for flights to both Manchester 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 $17
    Manchester $70

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 Manchester

For Manchester, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $30
  • Pistachio LOVERS Italian Dinner Experience: $44
  • Manchester Food Tour with a Local Guide: $94
  • Half-Day Manchester Food Tour with Lunch: $95
  • 3-Hour Guided Manchester Food Tour with Lunch : $95
  • Private Food Tour with Local Guide: $199

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zanzibar $13
    Manchester $38

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 Manchester

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Manchester.

  • Manchester Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.37
  • Manchester City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.38
  • Manchester’s Rebirth and Renewal: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • England's First Industrial City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Manchester Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
  • Private Manchester Self-Guided Tour: $11
  • Self-Guided City Sightseeing Treasure Hunt: $13
  • Salford Quays Guided Walking Tour: $13
  • Canal & River Cruise: $15
  • City River Tour: $15
  • LGBT+ Manchester Walking Tour: $17

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zanzibar $6.86
    Manchester $12

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 Manchester

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Manchester:

  • Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $48
  • Four hour walking wine tasting tour of Manchester's best bars: $102


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Manchester, we can see that Manchester 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 Manchester 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 Manchester would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manchester 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 Manchester Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Manchester?

Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Manchester. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Manchester, 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 Manchester?

Manchester 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 Manchester in the Summer?

Both Manchester 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. Also, most visitors come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Zanzibar is much warmer than Manchester. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Manchester averages at about 16°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Manchester. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 176 hours of full sun.

Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Manchester. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Zanzibar 25°C (77°F) 
    Manchester 16°C (62°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Manchester in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Manchester. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In October, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Manchester. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Manchester during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Manchester. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Zanzibar 25°C (78°F) 
    Manchester 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Manchester in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Manchester. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Manchester this time of year.

It's quite cold in Manchester in the winter. Zanzibar is much warmer than Manchester in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Manchester fluctuates around 4°C (39°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 Manchester. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 53 hours of full sun.

Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Manchester. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Zanzibar 28°C (82°F) 
    Manchester 4°C (39°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Manchester in the Spring?

Both Manchester 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 Manchester for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Zanzibar is much warmer than Manchester. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Manchester averages at about 8°C (46°F).

Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Manchester during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 144 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Manchester. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Zanzibar 27°C (81°F) 
    Manchester 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Manchester and Zanzibar

Zanzibar Manchester
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 4°C (39°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 52 mm (2 in) 4°C (39°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Mar 28°C (83°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 6°C (43°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 8°C (46°F) 51 mm (2 in)
May 26°C (78°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 11°C (53°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 24°C (76°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 15°C (58°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 16°C (62°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 16°C (61°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Sep 25°C (76°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 25°C (78°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 11°C (52°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 7°C (44°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 5°C (40°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)