Which place is cheaper, Mumbai 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 Mumbai?
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 Mumbai 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 Mumbai?
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.
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
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 Mumbai, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesMumbai Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Mumbai $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Mumbai is $76. 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 Mumbai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Mumbai $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Mumbai $60
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Mumbai
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Mumbai? 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 Mumbai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Mumbai $6.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar VIP Transfer in Range Rover Sport: $300
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Daressalam with two way transfers: $260
- Zanzibar Transfer in Land Cruiser Prado: $220
- Arrival Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Zanzibar by Luxury Car: $211
- Zanzibar JetCar ride with drone video and transfer included: $168
- Safari Blue Zanzibar - Seafood Lunch, Sandbank & Hotel Transfer: $145
- Zanzibar VIP Transfer in Mercedes-Benz: $120
- Zanzibar Airport Pickup, Stone Town Tour and Nungwi Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Makunduchi: $98
- Private Transfer from Makunduchi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $98
- Zanzibar Quad Adventures from Nungwi or Kendwa & Hotel Transfer: $95
- Zanzibar Ferry Terminal Departure Transfers.: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Mumbai Airport BOM to Mumbai by Business Car: $65
- Airport Transfer: Mumbai to Mumbai Airport BOM by Van: $111
- Arrival Transfer: Mumbai Airport BOM to Mumbai by Luxury Van: $101
- Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Business Car: $65
- Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Luxury Van: $101
- Mumbai - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport: $39
- Mumbai After Dark: Private Night Tour with AC Transfers: $25
- Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
- Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Mumbai Airport BOM Private Transfer to Mumbai City Central/Hotels: $24
- Mumbai Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Mumbai?
Prices for flights to both Mumbai 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 $28Mumbai $38
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
- Private Zanzibar Spices Tour with Traditional Swahili Cooking Lesson: $55
- 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: $77
- Zanzibar Spice & Night Market: Cooking & Street Food Tour: $80
- Cooking Class Tour: $90
- A private half day spice farm with a cooking lesson: $90
- Zanzibar Sunset Dinner Dhow Cruise Kendwa Nungwi: $130
- Fully Day Private Tour Spice Tour Cooking Class and Stone town: $130
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mumbai Food Tour — 178 Years of Bombay on a Plate: $14
- Mumbai Street Food Tour with Evening Market Walk: $17
- Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai: $20
- Mumbai Food Tour: $20
- Best Mumbai Street Food Tour with Market & Train Ride Tour: $27
- Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home: $29
- Experience Mumbai Street Food Tour: $36
- Mumbai Street Food Tour: $39
- Mumbai Authentic Street Food Tour: $41
- Bombay Express Mumbai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Mumbai Best Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $46
- Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Mumbai in a Local Home: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Mumbai $2.34
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 Private Stone Town Walking Tour: $20
- 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
- 5 HOURS Stone Town Tour Including Pick-up and Drop off: $70
- 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
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
- Mumbai (Malabar District) Self-Guided Tour: $3.88
- Dharavi Slum tour in Mumbai by local resident: $4.28
- Audio Guided Walking Tour on HopOn India App – From Gateway to Fountain, Mumbai: $5.32
- Audio Guided Tour – Mumbai Cricket Walk by HopOn India: $5.34
- Elephanta Caves Audio Guided Walking Tour, Mumbai on HopOn India App: $5.34
- Mumbai's Historical Architecture: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $5.64
- Audio Guided Tour of Matunga & Dadar Parsi Colony, Mumbai: $6.14
- Dharavi Slum Tour in Untold Stories with Local Guide: $6.42
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra City Tour with Fatehpur Sikri: $7.10
- Mumbai Dharavi Slum Tour With Local English Guide: $7.53
- Mumbai Slum Tour with Dhobi Ghat Laundry & Train Ride Tour: $7.58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Mumbai $3.25
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
- Bombay Party (Bar Crawl): $25
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Mumbai, we can see that Mumbai 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 Mumbai is in Asia, 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 Mumbai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mumbai 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 Mumbai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Mumbai?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Mumbai, 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 Mumbai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Mumbai in the Summer?
Both Mumbai 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mumbai year-round.
Mumbai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Mumbai. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 640 mm (25.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Mumbai. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mumbai receives 73 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Zanzibar is cooler than Mumbai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Mumbai averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Mumbai 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Mumbai in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Mumbai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Mumbai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Mumbai. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mumbai this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Mumbai during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Mumbai receives 240 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar is generally cooler than Mumbai. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Mumbai fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Mumbai 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Mumbai in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Mumbai. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mumbai throughout the year.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Mumbai. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mumbai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Mumbai. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mumbai receives 270 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than Mumbai in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Mumbai fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Mumbai 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Mumbai in the Spring?
Both Mumbai and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Mumbai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Mumbai. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Mumbai receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Mumbai. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Mumbai during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Mumbai receives 284 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Mumbai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Mumbai averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Mumbai 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Mumbai and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Mumbai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 560 mm (22 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 640 mm (25.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 520 mm (20.5 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.