Which place is cheaper, Montreal 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 Montreal?
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 Montreal 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 Montreal?
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.
Montreal
While Quebec City is the political capital of Quebec Province, Montreal is the economic and cultural capital. It's also the second largest city in Canada, with a population of about 1.9 million and 4 million in the metropolitan area. It's the second largest French speaking city in the world behind Paris.
Montreal is a very trendy and vibrant city with an active nightlife and countless activities to enjoy. It's located on an island in the St. Lawrence River and has a humid continental climate. There are four distinct seasons. Summers are warm or hot and humid. Spring and fall are mild and winters are cold and snowy. You can expect about 2 meters of snow every year, but there are also more than 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesMontreal Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Montreal $235
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $235. 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 Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Montreal $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Montreal? 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 Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Montreal $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar VIP Transfer in Range Rover Sport: $300
- Zanzibar JetCar ride with drone video and transfer included: $168
- Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise with Transfers.: $148
- Safari Blue Zanzibar - Seafood Lunch, Sandbank & Hotel Transfer: $145
- Private Nakupenda Beach Day with Seafood Lunch and Transfers: $126
- Zanzibar Tour in Secret Beach, Kuza Cave and Jozani with transfer: $120
- Private Transfer from Kizimkazi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $97
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Makunduchi: $97
- Zanzibar Quad Adventures from Nungwi or Kendwa & Hotel Transfer: $95
- Zanzibar Old Town Private Transfer: $95
- Zanzibar Ferry Terminal Departure Transfers.: $90
- Zanzibar Private Round Trip Airport Transfer: $88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 8 Passengers Transfer from or to Montreal Airport YUL to Montreal City Center: $217
- Departure Transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport by Limos or Bus: $155
- Departure Transfer: Montreal to Airport YUL by Luxury SUV: $162
- Montréal Airport (YUL) to Montreal hotel or port - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Montréal Airport (YUL) to Montreal hotel or port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $135
- Montreal Best Private Transfer services: $72
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $72
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $174
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury Van: $181
- Montreal hotel or port to Montréal Airport (YUL) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- Montreal hotels to Montréal Airport (YUL) - Private Transfer: $69
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal 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 $28Montreal $62
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
- Zanzibar Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $50
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class With Lunch: $52
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Traditional Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $76
- Zanzibar Spice & Night Market: Cooking & Street Food Tour: $80
- A private half day spice farm with a cooking lesson: $90
- Zanzibar Private Tour & Cooking Class: $110
- Fully Day Private Tour Spice Tour Cooking Class and Stone town: $130
Typical Food Prices in Montreal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:
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Tim Hortons breakfast and coffee$8.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Thai and Cambodian Cooking Class Experience in Montréal: $58
- Bateau-Mouche Cruise with A La Carte Dinner Option: $61
- Jean-Talon & Little Italy Food Tour with 8 Tasting: $77
- Jean-Talon Market Hidden Gems Guided Food Tour: $78
- Mile End District Food Tour with 8+ Tastings: $81
- Jean Talon Market & Little Italy Food Tour with 8 Food Tastings: $87
- The Only Locally Owned Non-Touristy Food Tour by Spade & Palacio: $93
- Montreal Authentic Food Tour with 6 Dishes in Trendy Mile End: $99
- Montreal Mile End Guided Food Tour by Local Montreal Tours: $99
- Montreal Home Dining & Dim Sum Cooking Class: $115
- Old Montreal Guided Food Tour with 8+ Local Delicacies Tastings: $115
- Cooking Class & Lunch with Michelin-Trained Chef: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Montreal $21
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 Hours Private Stone Town City Tour: $50
- 2 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar: $270
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour: $19
- 3 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island: $25
- 3inONE, Private Spice, Stone Town & Prison Island Tours: $120
- 4h Quad Adventures in Nungwi / Kendwa: $135
- A Full Day Private Tour To Prison Island + Nakupenda + Stone Town: $150
- A Full Day Stone Town and Spice Farm Private Tour: $100
- A Half Day Private Dolphins And Snorkeling Tour To Mnemba Island: $95
- A Half Day Private Nungwi Village Tour (With Turtles Aquarium): $78
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Botanical Gardens (family of 4)$53
Tours and Activities in Montreal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.
- Montreal Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.61
- Self Guided Walking Tour of Montréal with Audio Guide: $5.83
- Montreal Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h15 and 24 Audio Comments: $6.88
- Montréal Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.65
- Old Montreal Historical Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Old Self-Guided Tour from Place D‘Armes to Old Port: $12
- Art Center and Museum Audio Guided Tour: $12
- Hospitalieres Museum Pass & Digital City Tour: $17
- Montreal Old Port: Urban Zipline Ticket: $21
- Musée des Hospitalières Entry & Digital City Tour: $21
- La Grande Roue de Montréal Entry Ticket: $23
- In the Shadow of the Mountain: Montreal Jewish History Walking Tour: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Montreal $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Montreal
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:
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Vodka$18
Sample the Local Flavors in Montreal
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montreal:
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $24
- Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl: $25
- Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $41
- Guided Pub Crawl of the City's Skyline Bars: $85
- Quebec Cheese and Wine Tasting: $94
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Montreal, we can see that Montreal 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 Montreal 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 Montreal would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montreal 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 Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Montreal, 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 Montreal?
Montreal 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 Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal 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 Montreal for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than Montreal in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Montreal. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Montreal because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Montreal averages at about 8°C (47°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Montreal. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Montreal. 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 Montreal this time of year.
It's quite cold in Montreal in the winter. In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°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 Montreal. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Montreal. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal 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 Montreal for the activities around the city.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Montreal in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Montreal. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 99 mm (3.9 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.