Which place is cheaper, Miami or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Miami?
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 Miami 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 Miami?
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.
Miami
Miami is a popular tourist destination and a modern city in South Florida. It has beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, cosmopolitan neighborhoods, impressive shopping, and excellent dining opportunities. It is also a gateway to the Florida Keys, which is another popular destination in South Florida.
Miami is the second most populated city in Florida and the metropolitan area is the most populated in the state with more than 5.4 million people. It's also the 7th largest metro area in the country. The city sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west. It covers 110 miles north to south but is a narrow 20 miles east to west.
Miami sits at a low latitude, giving it a subtropical savannah climate. There are two seasons; the warm and dry season between November and April and the hot and wet season between May and October. The coldest months are between December and March when highs are in the upper 70 or low 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months have highs in the upper 80s or 90s and lows in the mid 70s with high humidity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Miami $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Miami is $206. 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 Miami in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Miami $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Miami $264
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Miami
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Miami? 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 Miami Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Miami $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- AirPort & Sea Ferry Transfer Zone: $47
- Airport - Hotels Transfer all over the Zanzibar Island: $60
- Airport Pick-up Transfer To any Hotel In Zanzibar: $30
- Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Departures: $55
- Airport Transfer to Beach Hotel: $65
- Airport Transfer to any hotel in Zanzibar: $55
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Airport transfer to Nugwi, Paje and Kiwengwa Hotels : $45
- Airport/Hotel Transfer: $25
- Airport/port Transfer : $70
- Arrival Private Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Island by Luxury Car: $125
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport to Nungwi Beach Zanzibar: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
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Car Rental for a Day$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Miami
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
- Miami Airport and Port of Miami transfers, Limo Service in Miami: $120
- Door to Door Shuttle Transfer from Miami to Orlando: $80
- Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Experience with roundtrip transfer: $66
- Everglades National Park & Airboat tour with Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- From Miami - Private Transfer from Miami Hotels to Airport: $265
- From Miami Airport - Private Transfer to Hotels and Homes: $265
- From Miami Beach: Roundtrip Bimini Ferry and Hotel Transfers: $289
- From Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show & Bus Transfer: $57
- From Everglades Wildlife Show, Airboat & Bus Transfer: $40
- MIA: Transfer to Miami Beach, Aventura, Coral Gables: $150
- Miami & Key West: One-Way Transfer by Motor Coach Bus: $62
- Miami Int'l Airport: Private 1-Way Transfer to Miami Port: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Miami?
Prices for flights to both Miami 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 $17Miami $41
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 Miami
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
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Lunch with Drinks (for 2)$45
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David's Cafe Lunch (for 1)$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
- The Ultimate Little Havana Food Tour: $64
- Wynwood Street Art, Culture, Donuts & Walking Food Tour: $65
- South Beach Food Tour: $70
- A Taste of South Beach Food Tour: $70
- Little Havana Walking Food Tour: $75
- South Beach Miami Food & Fun Art Deco Food Tour : $79
- Wynwood Walls Art District Food Tour: $80
- Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show: $98
- Mango's Dinner and Show Ticket: $98
- Miami Dinner Party w/ Night Club Experience: $100
- Guided Small Group Little Havana Food Tour: $124
- Ukrainian cooking class in Miami: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Miami $31
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
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $25
- Stonetown City (Walking Tour): $25
- Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Private Stone Town City Tour Zanzibar : $25
Tours and Activities in Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Haunted a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour : $5.94
- Little Havana Smartphone guided Audio App Solo Walking Tour: $6.75
- Miami Beach: Self-Guided Walking Tour With Audio Guide: $7.30
- Haunted Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $7.30
- Private Sightseeing Audio Walking Tour in Miami Beach: $7.99
- Sights of Downtown a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- Luggage Storage and Cruise Lounge Area: $8.00
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Miami: $8.72
- Miami Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Miami Marlins Baseball Game Ticket at loandepot Park: $9.25
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Little Havana: $10
- Audio Tour of Downtown, South Beach, and Wynwood: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Miami $22
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 Miami
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
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Evening at a Bar$32
Sample the Local Flavors in Miami
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
- Miami Bar Crawl: $25
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Small-Group Brewery Golf Cart Tour of Wynwood with a Local Guide: $59
- Wynwood Graffiti Brewery Golf Cart Tour: $63
- Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
- Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
- Wynwood Bar Crawl: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Miami, we can see that Miami 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 Miami is in North 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 Miami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Miami 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 Miami Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Miami?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of Miami. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Miami, 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 Miami?
Miami 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 Miami in the Summer?
Both Miami and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Miami for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Zanzibar is cooler than Miami. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Miami averages at about 83°F (28°C).
It's quite sunny in Miami. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Miami during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Miami receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Miami. In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Miami. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Miami receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Miami 83°F (28°C)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Miami in the Autumn?
Both Miami and Zanzibar during the autumn 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 autumn months attract visitors to Miami because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Miami. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Miami fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In Miami, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Miami. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Miami receives 275 hours of full sun.
Miami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Miami. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Miami receives 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Miami 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Miami in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Miami. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Miami this time of year.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than Miami in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Miami fluctuates around 67°F (20°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Miami this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Miami during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Miami receives 243 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Miami. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Miami receives 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Miami 67°F (20°C)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Miami in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Miami. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Miami for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Miami. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Miami averages at about 75°F (24°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Miami. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Miami. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Miami receives 300 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar receives a lot of rain in the spring. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Miami. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Miami receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Miami 75°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Miami and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Miami | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
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.