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 $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Porto is $182. 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 $82
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Porto $164
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:
- Luxury Zanzibar Airport Transfer in Range Rover Sport: $300
- Zanzibar Must-see Sights with Lunch and Transfers: $249
- Taxi Transfer To The Rock Restaurant - safe and reliable: $140
- Zanzibar Airport Pickup, Stone Town Tour and Nungwi Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer from Makunduchi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $98
- Private Transfer from Kizimkazi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $98
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Kizimkazi: $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 Matemwe to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $88
- Private Transfer from Kiwengwa 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
- Arrival Transfer: Porto Airport OPO to Porto in Luxury Car: $140
- Arrival Transfer: Porto Airport OPO to Porto in Luxury Van: $100
- Departure Transfer: Porto to Porto Airport OPO by Luxury Van: $100
- Douro Valley Private One-Way Transfer (Régua, Pinhão, Lamego): $189
- From Private Transfer to Lisbon with up to 3 Stops: $265
- From Transfer to Lisbon with up to 3 City Stops: $265
- Gaia Private Transfer to Oporto Airport: $19
- Minivan Departure Transfer from Porto City to Porto Airport OPO: $72
- Ofir Private Transfer to Porto: $44
- Oporto Airport Private Transfer to Esposende: $77
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 $72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Zanzibar Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $50
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class: $69
- Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
- Traditional Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $76
- 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $100
- A Half Day Private Cooking Class At the Spice Farm: $107
- Zanzibar Private Tour & Cooking Class: $110
- Spice Farm with Cooking Class + Lunch and Stone town (City tour): $130
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
- Porto Food Tour Market Tapas and Port Wine Cellar Experience: $71
- Dinner with Fado and Portuguese Traditional Music: $71
- Bolhão Market Guided Food Tour: $77
- Private Fabulist Food Tour: $83
- Taste of the Ocean Authentic Porto Seafood Tour: $83
- Authentic Porto Small Group Food Tour with Local Tastings: $87
- 4 Hour Traditional Aveiro Portuguese Food Tour: $88
- Porto Food Tour: $88
- Private Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $100
- Fado Tour with Guide, Dinner & Live Show in Porto: $100
- Authentic Porto Food Tour & Market Experience: $101
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:
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour: $20
- 5 HOURS Stone Town Tour Including Pick-up and Drop off: $70
- 8 Days Zanzibar Discovery Adventure: $220
- A Half Day Private Dolphins And Snorkeling Tour To Mnemba Island: $95
- A Half Day Private Stone Town Tour: $85
- A Half Day Private Tour To Jozani Forest: $87
- A Half Day Private Tour to Spice Farm: $80
- A Private Full Day Tour To Stone Town & Spice Farm: $90
- A Stone Town Private Tour Experience in Zanzibar: $35
- Baraka Aquarium and Dolphin Sightseeing with Sunset Cruise: $115
- Baraka Aquarium; Jozani Forest Tour; Kuza Cave; Paje Beach; The Rock Restaurant: $150
- Baraka Aquarium; The Island Pongwe; Spice Tour; The Secret Garden; The Rock: $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 Gaia Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $1.42
- Porto Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $2.46
- Aveiro Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.17
- Self-Guided Tours in Porto with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.53
- Porto - Origin & Present - Guided Tour: $3.54
- Porto Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.54
- Porto's #1 Walking Tour: $3.54
- Porto History and Culture Walking Tour with Local Guides: $3.54
- Porto Highlights the Original Walking Tour: $4.72
- Porto Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Porto Audio guided walking tour 3h00 and 27 audio commentary: $6.96
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.72Porto $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Zanzibar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zanzibar:
- Thrilling Pub Crawl In Zanzibar. Visit 3 Unique Bars: $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Crazy Pub Crawl with 9 Drinks, Free Shots, Wild Games +VIP: $14
- Porto Pub Crawl With Unlimited Beer: $21
- Private visit with wine tasting in Alijó Douro: $24
- Chocolate and Wine Tasting Activity in Matosinhos Portugal: $25
- Pub Crawl Porto: $25
- Poças Guided Visit and Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $27
- Premium wine tasting at Quinta das Arcas: $28
- Wine tasting of 5 Port Wines with a Sommelier: $29
- Fado Concert with Port Wine Tasting at Quinta da Boeira: $29
- Port : Cockburn's Port Lodge Tour & Main Room Wine Tasting: $31
- Porto Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour with Wine tasting & Night tour: $32
- Cálem Cellar Tour, Live Fado Show and 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.