Which place is cheaper, Portland or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Portland?
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 Portland 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 Portland?
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.
Portland
Referred to as "The City of Roses", Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It sits on the banks of the Columbia River and offers breathtaking views of Mount Hood when the weather allows. Portland is famous for its alternative vibe, live music scene, and popular microbreweries. It's also a mecca for environmentally conscious urban planning. The downtown area is quite compact and walkable. While the city itself may be smaller than you expect, it is still the largest metropolitan area between San Francisco and Seattle.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Portland $180
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Portland is $180. 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 Portland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Portland $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Portland $194
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Portland
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Portland? 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 Portland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Portland $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- transfer from airport to Makunduchi Zanzibar: $44
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
- Zanzibar:Hotels & Airport Transfer Services: $50
- Stone Town to Airport Private Transfer: $23
- Safari blue tour with Lunch and Transfers: $180
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town: $23
- Private Airport Transfer: $50
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $50
- Jozani Forest and Spice Farm Tour With Transfer: $110
- Island Transfers: $50
- Fishing Boat Tour with Transfer: $109
- Baraka Turtle Aquarium Tour with Hotel Transfers: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portland
Also for Portland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lake Oswego to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $142
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Tigard hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $151
- Portland International Airport - Private transfer from/to Oregon City: $127
- Portland downtown to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- Private Transfer from Portland Airport (PDX) to Astoria Port: $88
- Tigard hotel or address to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $75
- Waterfall Express -PDX: Waterfall Trolley Tickets + Transfer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Portland?
Prices for flights to both Portland 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 $17Portland $43
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
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- An romantic cooking Lesson + Spice Farm Tour: $55
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Zanzibar Cooking Class & Spice Tour : $59
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $60
- Spice Farm tour & Local cooking lesson with Lunch: $64
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $65
- Stone Town Private Food Tour with a Guide: $65
Typical Food Prices in Portland
For Portland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Afternoon Drinks (for 2)$9.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portland
For Portland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Pizza Tour: $75
- Secret Food Tour with Local Guide: $94
- Brunch on Mississippi Food Tour: $95
- Downtown Portland Food Tour : $99
- Downtown Food Tour: $102
- Mississippi Avenue Walking Food Tour: $105
- The Vibrant Kerns Hood Food Tour: $105
- The Bustling Buckman Hood Food Tour: $105
- Portland Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $109
- Mississippi Avenue Walking Food Tour: $110
- All-Inclusive Downtown Portland Food Tour: $119
- 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise on Willamette River: $127
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Portland $24
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Spice Tour & Mangapwani Cave Tour: $80
- Stone City, Spice Farm and Prison Island Full Day Tour: $130
- Stonetown Private Half-day Walking Tour: $35
- Zanzibar Spice Tour : $47
- 10 DAYS MOSHI TO ZANZIBAR BIKE TOUR: $4,286
- 2day Zanzibar adventure: Prison Island & Sandbank (all-incl): $538
- 3 HOURS PRISON ISLAND TOUR IN ZANZIBAR: $60
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $30
- 3-Day Selous Game Reserve Safari & Cultural tour with Flight: $1,345
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island : $26
Tours and Activities in Portland
For Portland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Smartphone Old Port Portland, ME Audio Walking Tour APP/GPS: $6.75
- Portland, Maine: Walking Tour Audio Guide: $8.99
- Downtown Portland In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Smartphone Audio Guide: $10
- Waterfront Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Downtown Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour: $13
- Portland (Along the Waterfront) Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Portland Exploration: Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour: $14
- Self-Guided Sightseeing Driving Audio Tour: $15
- Portland Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Smartphone-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Portland: $25
- Ghosts, Poltergeists, and Psychopaths Walking Tour: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Portland $17
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 Portland
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Portland:
- Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings: $40
- Portland Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $40
- Weird Bar Crawl with Fanatical Local: $59
- Guided Bike Tour with Brewery Visits: $65
- Portland, Maine: Old Port Brewery & Pub Walking Tour: $89
- Portland, Maine: Local Brewery & Spirits Bus Tour: $99
- Afternoon Tour in Columbia Gorge Waterfall with Free Wine Tasting: $111
- Waterfalls, Mt Hood, and Wine Tour (Tasting Fees Included): $135
- Silver Falls Hike and Wine Tour: $179
- Willamette Valley Wine Tasting from Portland: $189
- Bed and Breakfast Wine Tour - Small Group, Joinable/Sharable: $198
- From Willamette Valley Full-Day Wine Tour: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Portland, we can see that Portland 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 Portland 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 Portland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portland 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 Portland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Portland?
Portland has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Portland, 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 Portland?
Portland 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 Portland in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Portland. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the hiking, the small town charm, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Portland this time of year.
In the summer, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Portland. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Portland averages at about 68°F (20°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Portland. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Portland. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 338 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in July than Portland. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Portland receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Portland 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Portland in the Autumn?
Both Portland and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Portland for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Portland. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Portland fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Portland during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Portland. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Portland receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Portland 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Portland in the Winter?
Both Portland and Zanzibar during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Portland in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Portland can get quite cold in the winter. Zanzibar is much warmer than Portland in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Portland fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Portland. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 86 hours of full sun.
Portland gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in January than Portland. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Portland receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Portland 40°F (4°C)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Portland in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Portland. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, most visitors come to Portland for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Zanzibar is much warmer than Portland. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Portland averages at about 51°F (11°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Portland this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Portland during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.
Zanzibar gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Portland. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Portland receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Portland 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Portland and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Portland | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 40°F (4°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 40°F (5°C) | 6.1 inches (156 mm) |
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.