Which place is cheaper, Marseille 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 Marseille?
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 Marseille 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 Marseille?
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.
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesMarseille Prices
France Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Marseille $201
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Marseille is $201. 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 Marseille in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Marseille $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Marseille $160
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Marseille
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Marseille? 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 Marseille Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Marseille $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Premium Transfer from Zanzibar Airport ⇋ Nungwi: $65
- Airport Transfer: $90
- Zanzibar Tour in Secret Beach, Kuza Cave and Jozani with transfer: $120
- Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $16
- Zanzibar Private Transfer from Michamvi Beach to the Airport: $44
- Zanzibar Private Taxi and Airport Transfers: $34
- Zanzibar Private Round Trip Airport Transfer: $121
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Bwejuu Beach to the Airport: $40
- Zanzibar Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Kendwa Beach: $60
- Zanzibar Private Arrival Transfer From Airport To Nungwi Beach Hotels: $60
- Zanzibar Private Airport Transfer to Paje Beach Hotels: $50
- Zanzibar Must-see Sights with Lunch and Transfers: $249
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
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Metro Pass$3.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer: MRS Airport to Marseille by Business Car: $114
- Cruise Port ↔ Marseille Provence Airport Transfer: $109
- DE Marseille - Avignon airport transfer service: $235
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to Arles city - Arrival Private Transfer: $157
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to Marseille - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to Marseille Port - Round-Trip Transfer: $176
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to Marseille- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $135
- Marseille Airport (MRS): Transfer to Marseille Cruise Port: $223
- Marseille Airport Transfer to Cruise Port: $160
- Marseille Airport Transfer to St Rémy de Provence: $244
- Marseille Airport Transfer: Private Chauffeur Service: $90
- Marseille Airport and Cruise port private transfer: $183
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Marseille?
Prices for flights to both Marseille 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 $28Marseille $82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzi Nights Stone Town Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $45
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class and Spice Farm: $59
- Spice Farm Zanzibar Cooking Class Authentic Cultural Experience: $65
- 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
- Zanzibar Sunset Dinner Dhow Cruise Kendwa Nungwi: $130
Typical Food Prices in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orangina$2.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Web-cooking workshop / French cuisine or French pastry: $37
- Food Tour Marseille Local specialities only With a local: $79
- Marseille Food Tour – Full Meal of Local Tastes by Do Eat Better: $85
- Marseille Guided Food Tour with 10 Locals Favorites Tastings: $109
- Aix-en-Provence 3-Hour Walking Food Tour: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Marseille $43
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 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar: $270
- 3 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island: $26
- 5 HOURS Stone Town Tour Including Pick-up and Drop off: $70
- A Full Day Safari Blue Tour And Blue Lagoon: $140
- A Half Day Private Dolphins And Snorkeling Tour To Mnemba Island: $95
- A Half Day Private Nungwi Village Tour (With Turtles Aquarium): $78
- A Half Day Private Prison Island Tour: $106
- A Half Day Private Stone Town Tour: $85
- A Half Day Private Tour To Jozani Forest: $87
- A Half Day Private Tour To Spice Farm: $80
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Marseille Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.44
- Marseille Noailles District Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.49
- Marseille Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.73
- Marseille Old Town Exploration Game and Tour: $6.17
- entry ticket to the Sky Center panoramic terrace: $17
- Château D’If Entry Ticket: $17
- Mucem Fast-Track Entry Ticket and Le Panier Audio Tour: $18
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $23
- Cosquer Cave Entry Ticket and Audio Guide: $28
- Guided Tour of CEPAC: $32
- Marseille Guided Tour for 2.5 Hours with a Bilingual Local Guide: $40
- Marseille Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.76Marseille $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
- Marseille Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $29
- Short Day Tour around Aix en Provence and Wine Tasting: $137
- Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $172
- Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $182
- Full-Day Wine Tour around Luberon from Marseille: $183
- From Marseille Cruise Port : Avignon & Wine Tasting: $185
- Marseille Highlights & Wine Tasting Day Tour from Marseille: $194
- Bandol & Cassis Rosé Wine Tour from Marseille: $200
- Avignon and Côtes du Rhône Wine Tasting Tour: $209
- Cassis, Bandol, Le Castellet wine tour: Cliffs and Vineyards: $407
- Marseille Vieux Port & Wine Tasting - Private Tour: $1,222
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Marseille, we can see that Marseille 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 Marseille 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille 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 Marseille Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Marseille?
Marseille has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Marseille, 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 Marseille?
Marseille 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 Marseille in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Marseille. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Marseille in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Marseille fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in July than Marseille. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Marseille 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Marseille in the Autumn?
Both Marseille and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is much warmer than Marseille. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Marseille averages at about 16°C (61°F).
It's quite sunny in Marseille. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Marseille during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Marseille. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Marseille 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Marseille in the Winter?
Both Marseille and Zanzibar during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Marseille. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Marseille. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Marseille 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Marseille in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Marseille. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Marseille in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Marseille in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Marseille fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.
Zanzibar gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Marseille. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Marseille 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Marseille and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Marseille | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 56 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.