Which place is cheaper, Ponce 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 Ponce?
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 Ponce 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 Ponce?
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.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, and The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Ponce? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $15
- Premium Private Transfer in Zanzibar – Airport, Hotels, Beaches: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers Pickup and Drop off/departure: $20
- Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $20
- Airport Taxi and Hotel Transfer Service in Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Zanzibar Departure Transfer from Stone Town Hotels to the Airport: $20
- Abeid Amani Karume Airport Pick-Up & Hotel Transfer in Zanzibar: $20
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town and Beyond: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer to/from Hotel: $20
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce 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 $28Ponce $61
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
- Private Zanzibar Spices Tour with Traditional Swahili Cooking Lesson: $55
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Traditional Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $77
- Cooking Class Tour: $90
- A private half day spice farm with a cooking lesson: $90
- A Half Day Private Cooking Class At the Spice Farm: $107
- Zanzibar Sunset Dinner Dhow Cruise Kendwa Nungwi: $130
- Zanzibar Full-Day Tour Jozani Forest and Swahili Cooking Class: $130
- Exclusive Private Sunset Dinner Sail along North Coast Zanzibar: $140
- Spice Tour; Secret Garden Restaurant; Stone Town; Dinner at The Rock Restaurant: $140
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Zanzibar Unveiled From Slaves to Sultans Audio Tour: $7.08
- Nyange Sandbank & Snorkelling tour with BBQ lunch: $12
- Stone Town Hidden Gems: Historical Walking Tour with Local Guide: $13
- Private Stone Town Cultural & Historical Walking Tour - Zanzibar: $16
- Private Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Tour: $16
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $18
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour Experience: $18
- Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar: $18
- Stone Town Guided Walking Tour: Shopping, Culture & History: $18
- Stone Town tour: $18
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $19
- Zanzibar Green Tour Spice Farm and Butterfly Centre: $20
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- Explore El Yunque and Historic Castle in Old San Juan Tour: $69
- Island Escape Rainforest to Castles Tour: $70
- Arecibo Triple Tour Indian Caves Waterfalls and Nature : $71
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
- Puerto Rico Countryside Tour with Visit to Waterfall: $79
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Ponce, we can see that Ponce 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 Ponce is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce 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 Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Ponce?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Ponce, 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 Ponce?
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 Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Ponce. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Ponce. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Ponce. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Ponce. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce 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 Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Ponce. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce 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 Ponce year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Ponce. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
In April, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.