Which place is cheaper, Petra 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 Petra?
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 Petra 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 Petra?
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.
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesPetra Prices
Jordan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Petra $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Petra is $153. 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 Petra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Petra $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Petra $118
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Petra
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Petra? 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 Petra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Petra $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer Anywhere: $12
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $15
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Private Airport Transfers in Zanzibar To Stone Town: $20
- Private Zanzibar Airport Transfer: $20
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town and Beyond: $20
- Private Transfer from Abeid Amani Karume Airport to Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $20
- Airport Taxi and Hotel Transfer Service in Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer and Island Shuttle Service: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Comfort VIP Private Transfer: Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels: $140
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
- Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations By Minivan: $160
- Petra to Aqaba Border (Yitzhak Rabin Terminal) – Private Transfer: $130
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $88
- Private Transfer From or To Airport, Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea: $33
- Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Petra?
Prices for flights to both Petra 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 $28Petra $66
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
- Zanzi Nights Stone Town Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $45
- Private Zanzibar Spices Tour with Traditional Swahili Cooking Lesson: $55
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Spice Farm Zanzibar Cooking Class Authentic Cultural Experience: $65
- Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class: $69
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
- Cooking Class Tour: $75
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
- Zanzibar Spice Farm, Village Tour and Cooking Experience: $90
- 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $97
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Authentic Jordanian Cooking, Taste of Comfort With Family: $28
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains.: $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Petra $47
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Podcast Tour Zanzibar City The Black Gold and the Broken Chains: $6.83
- Safari Blue island of Kwale Adventure: $8.00
- Stone Town Tour: $8.00
- Private Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Tour: $14
- Zanzibar Private Spice Farm Tour With Optional Lunch: $17
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $17
- Stone Town Private Tour in Zanzibar: $17
- Stone Town tour: $18
- Zanzibar:Stone Town Tour Guide: $20
- Stone Town Hidden Gems: Historical Walking Tour with Local Guide: $20
- Stone Town Tour: $20
- Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise with Traditional Drums and Fruits: $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- Self Guided Tour of Petra Main Trail with App (No Tickets): $8.99
- Petra 3-Hour Private Tour with a Local Guide: $60
- Private Guided Tour in Petra with licensed guide: $70
- Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75
- Private Multilingual Guided Tour in Petra: $90
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $100
- Wadi Rum Private Guided Tour: $105
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $130
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.72Petra $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Petra, we can see that Petra 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 Petra is in Middle East, 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 Petra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Petra?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Petra, 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 Petra?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Petra in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Petra. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Petra. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Petra receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Petra during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Petra receives 384 hours of full sun in the summer.
The heat can be very extreme in Petra. Zanzibar is cooler than Petra in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Petra fluctuates around 33°C (91°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Petra 33°C (91°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Petra in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Petra. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in October than Petra. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Petra receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Petra. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Petra receives 295 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Petra. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Petra averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Petra 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Petra in the Winter?
Both Petra and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Petra. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Petra receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Petra. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Petra during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Petra receives 234 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Petra. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Petra fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Petra 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Petra in the Spring?
Both Petra and Zanzibar during the spring 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 Petra year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Petra. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Petra receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Petra. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Petra receives 282 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than Petra in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Petra fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Petra 25°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Petra and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Petra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.