Which place is cheaper, Melbourne 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 Melbourne?
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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne?
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.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesMelbourne Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Melbourne $208
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $208. 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 Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Melbourne $127
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Melbourne $254
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Melbourne $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Premium Transfer from Zanzibar Airport ⇋ Nungwi: $65
- Premium Transfer from Zanzibar Airport ⇋ Kiwengwa: $65
- Premium Transfer from Zanzibar Airport ⇋ Kendwa: $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 Shared Departure Transfer: $56
- Zanzibar Sea Fishing Boat Tour experience with Transfer: $85
- Zanzibar Private Transfer from Michamvi Beach to the Airport: $44
- Zanzibar Private Round Trip Airport Transfer: $121
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Paje Beach to the Airport: $44
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Nungwi Beach to the Airport: $44
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$11
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Tram Ride$2.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers: $151
- Airport Transfers & Day Tours in a Chauffeur-Driven Luxury Van: $134
- Airport to City Private Transfers: $134
- Arrival Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Sedan: $120
- Arrival Transfer from Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Van: $170
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $177
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $189
- CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer - 11 traveler's: $129
- Express Bus Transfer to or from Melbourne City Center: $20
- Luxury Airport Transfers & Private Car Services in Melbourne: $107
- Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $86
- Melbourne Airport Arrival Or Departure Luxury Car Transfers: $117
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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 $28Melbourne $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Zanzi Nights Stone Town Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $45
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Zanzibar Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $50
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class and Spice Farm: $59
- 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
- A Half Day Private Cooking Class At the Spice Farm: $107
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.79
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Pizza$4.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- BACCHUS MARSH: Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $57
- Progressive Day/Night Food Tour - Chinatown & Laneways: $70
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $86
- Street Food Tour in Melbourne's Inner North: $88
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Pizza Making Party: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Melbourne $29
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
- 3inONE, Private Spice, Stone Town & Prison Island Tours: $120
- 5 HOURS Stone Town Tour Including Pick-up and Drop off: $70
- 8 Days Zanzibar Discovery Adventure: $220
- 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
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self Guided Tour of Melbourne's Best Kept Secrets: $1.12
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self Guided Walking Tour: $3.42
- Fitzroy Noir Mystery Crimes and the Occult Tour: $3.54
- Melbourne Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.54
- Melbourne St Kilda Self-Guided Walking City Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.98
- Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.20
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
- Self Guided Walking Tour in Melbourne St Kilda Penguins: $9.99
- Melbourne City Magic Self Guided Walking Tour with an App: $9.99
- Como House: Guided House Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.76Melbourne $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.41
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $21
- Melbourne Pub Crawl: $25
- Tuesday Melbourne Bar Crawl: $25
- Saturday Melbourne Bar Crawl: $25
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Guide: $25
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $28
- Rock'n'roll venues pub crawl including 2 free drinks and history: $57
- Relaxed Half Day Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Melbourne: $84
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne 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 Melbourne is in Pacific, 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Melbourne, 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 Melbourne?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Melbourne. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Melbourne in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Melbournein January. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Melbournein January. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Melbournein January. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Melbourne in the Autumn?
Both Melbourne 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, most visitors come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Melbourne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Melbourne in the Winter?
Both Melbourne 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. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Melbourne averages at about 9°C (49°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Melbournein July. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Melbournein July. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Melbourne in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Melbournein October. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Melbourne during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 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 Melbournein October. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.