Which place is cheaper, Porto 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 Porto?
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 Porto 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 Porto?
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.
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesPorto Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Porto $186
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Porto is $186. 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 Porto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Porto $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Porto $166
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Porto
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Porto? 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 Porto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Porto $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar VIP Transfer in Range Rover Sport: $300
- Zanzibar JetCar ride with drone video and transfer included: $168
- The Top Best Tour in Stone Town and Prison Island with Transfer: $130
- Private Nakupenda Beach Day with Seafood Lunch and Transfers: $126
- Zanzibar Tour in Secret Beach, Kuza Cave and Jozani with transfer: $120
- Private Transfer from Kizimkazi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $98
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Makunduchi: $98
- Zanzibar Quad Adventures from Nungwi or Kendwa & Hotel Transfer: $95
- Zanzibar Ferry Terminal Departure Transfers.: $90
- Jet Ski to Zanzibar with photos and video and transfer included: $90
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Kiwengwa: $88
- Private Transfer from Bwejuu to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Private Transfer to/from Porto: $44
- Airport Transfer from Porto to Aveiro: $162
- Airport Transfer: Porto Airport OPO to Porto by Luxury Van: $101
- Arrival Private Transfer from Porto Airport OPO to Porto by Sedan: $42
- Arrival Transfer: Porto Airport OPO to Porto in Luxury Van: $100
- Aveiro Private Transfer to Porto: $86
- Departure Transfer from Porto to Porto Airport OPO in Private Car/Van: $105
- Departure Transfer: Porto to Porto Airport OPO by Business Car: $82
- Gaia Private Transfer to Oporto Airport: $19
- Need a transfer from Porto to Pinhão?: $236
- Oporto Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $18
- Oporto Airport Private Transfer to Gaia: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Porto?
Prices for flights to both Porto 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 $28Porto $73
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 Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Sé do Porto): $41
- Vegan Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Port Wine: $41
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Lapa): $41
- Taste of the Ocean Authentic Porto Seafood Tour: $83
- Authentic Porto Small Group Food Tour with Local Tastings: $87
- Aveiro Private Cooking Experience (for vacation rental guests): $88
- Small Group Porto Food Tour Traditional Taverns and Local Dishes: $88
- Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto by Taste Porto (since 2013): $88
- Authentic Porto Food Tour + Traditional Restaurant Stop: $88
- Porto Food Tour: $88
- Shopping, cooking and eating together at my home in Porto: $88
- Private Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $94
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Porto $29
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
- 4h Quad Adventures in Nungwi / Kendwa: $135
- A Full Day Private Tour To Prison Island + Nakupenda + Stone Town: $150
- A Half Day Private Dolphins And Snorkeling Tour To Mnemba Island: $95
- A Half Day Private Prison Island Tour: $106
- A Half Day Private Tour To Spice Farm: $80
- A Half Day Private Tour to Spice Farm: $80
- A Half Day Quad Bike Village Tour: $130
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- Porto Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.18
- Porto Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.53
- Self-Guided Tour Adventure Discovering Porto: $3.53
- The Unvanquished Tour in Porto City Center: $3.53
- Porto's Old Town Tour & Ribeira: $3.54
- Tour of Vila Nova de Gaia: $3.54
- Porto Revealed The Must Do Walking Tour: $3.54
- Porto's #1 Walking Tour: $3.54
- Porto Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.49
- Porto (Gaia) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.49
- TOP Aveiro : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $5.90
- Porto Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Porto $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Porto:Pub Crawl 4Bars,8Drinks,Games & VIP Club Entry: $21
- Porto Pub Crawl With Unlimited Beer: $21
- Chocolate and Wine Tasting Activity in Matosinhos Portugal: $25
- Poças Guided Visit and Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $27
- Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 3 Port Wines: $27
- Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 2 DOC Douro & 1 Port Wine: $27
- Premium wine tasting at Quinta das Arcas: $28
- Classic Wine Tasting with GUIDED TOUR: $29
- Cellar Tour, Port Wine Tasting & Fado Show at Fonseca: $29
- Taylor's Port Cellars Visit & Port Wine Tasting: $29
- Porto Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour with Wine tasting & Night tour: $32
- Authentic Oporto Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Porto, we can see that Porto 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 Porto is in Europe, 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 Porto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Porto 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 Porto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Porto?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 62% larger than the population of Porto. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Porto, 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 Porto?
Porto 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 Porto in the Summer?
Both Porto 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Porto. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Porto averages at about 21°C (69°F).
In Porto, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Porto. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Porto receives 308 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in July than Porto. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Porto receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Porto 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Porto in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Porto. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Porto because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Porto. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Porto fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Porto during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Porto receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Porto receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Porto. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Porto receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Porto 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Porto in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Porto. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Porto this time of year.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Porto in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Porto fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Porto. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Porto receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Porto. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in January than Porto. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Porto receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Porto 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Porto in the Spring?
Both Porto and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Porto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Zanzibar is much warmer than Porto. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Porto averages at about 14°C (56°F).
It's quite sunny in Porto. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Porto during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Porto receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Porto. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Porto receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Porto 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Porto and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Porto | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 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.