Which place is cheaper, Nairobi or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi 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 Nairobi?
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.
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Kenya, and The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $49Nairobi $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $49, while the average daily cost in Nairobi is $62. 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 Nairobi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $23Nairobi $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $46Nairobi $24
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Nairobi
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Nairobi? 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 Nairobi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Nairobi $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar:Stone town Street food market walking tour,transfer: $31
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $165
- Zanzibar:Hotels & Airport Transfer Services: $50
- Stone Town to Airport Private Transfer: $23
- Stone Town and Prison Island Tour with Transfer: $85
- Private Transfer by Car: $57
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $40
- Jozani Forest and Spice Farm Tour With Transfer: $110
- Island Resort Transfer Service: $50
- Fishing Boat Tour with Transfer: $95
- Baraka Turtle Aquarium Tour with Hotel Transfers: $80
- Airport_Hotel and Destination Transfer Service: $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer in Nairobi- JKIA: $30
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi: $20
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $47
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $28
- Airport Transfers within Nairobi: $30
- Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels : $55
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $40
- Bush Safaris and Airport transfers: $85
- From Kibera Community Walking Tour With Transfer: $40
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: Airport transfers: $50
- Kenya: Adventure, and Cultural Tours with Transfers: $33
- Masai Mara from Nairobi Transfer: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Nairobi?
Prices for flights to both Nairobi 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 $16Nairobi $7.53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Stone Town Tour with Forodhani Gardens Dinner: $47
- Private Zanzibar Spices Tour with Traditional Swahili Cooking Lesson: $55
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Experience Night Local Food Tour at Stone Town: $60
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $60
- Zanzibar pizza making & wine tasting: $65
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $65
- Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class with Lunch: $65
- Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour: $68
- Spice farm tour with local foods cooking class: $69
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Cooking Class with Local Organic Market Visit: $40
- Cooking Class with Market Visit and Delicious food: $40
- Carnivore experience Lunch Or Dinner (Optional Bomas of kenya ): $40
- Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi: $40
- Experience the Taste of Nairobi:A Hands-On Cooking Adventure: $44
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi.: $47
- Traditional Cuisines Cooking Experience And Class.: $50
- Local Market Tour and Traditional Meal Cooking Class: $55
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $60
- Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
- Nairobi Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $12Nairobi $47
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Tour in Zanzibar : $33
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Stonetown Private Half-day Walking Tour: $35
- Zanzibar Spice Tour : $124
- 10 DAYS MOSHI TO ZANZIBAR BIKE TOUR: $4,286
- 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 PRISON ISLAND TOUR IN ZANZIBAR: $60
- 3 Hour Community Walking Tour: $20
- 3 Hour Walking Tour Experience at Stone Town Tanzania : $39
- 3*1 Tour: Prison Island, stone town, spice farm: $86
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$16
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Tour in Kibera the Largest Slum: $15
- Nairobi cultural shopping experience: $18
- Nairobi City;culture and historical guided tour: $19
- Nairobi;Downtown walking tour: $20
- Kibera Slum Tour with a Local: $20
- Nairobi City Walking and Historic Tours: $22
- Kibera Slum Tour with a Local : $25
- Nairobi City tour: $25
- Half-Day Tour Giraffe Center and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: $25
- Kibera slums half day tour from nairobi: $25
- From Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center Tour: $25
- Discover the vibrant soul of Nairobi ona captivating Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.52Nairobi $16
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Nairobi Ultimate Bar Crawl: $60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Nairobi, we can see that Nairobi is more expensive. And not only is Zanzibar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Nairobi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nairobi 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 Nairobi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Nairobi?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Nairobi, 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.
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.