Which place is cheaper, Quepos 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 Quepos?
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 Quepos 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $66Quepos $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $66, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $139. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $26Quepos $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $52Quepos $152
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Quepos? 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 Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $12Quepos $9.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Premium Transfer from Zanzibar Airport ⇋ Kiwengwa: $65
- Premium Transfer from Zanzibar Airport ⇋ Kendwa: $65
- Jozani Forest Guided Tour, Red Colobus and transfer: $67
- Zanzibar transfers and Taxi: $35
- Zanzibar taxi service/airport transfer: $60
- Zanzibar Shared Departure Transfer: $56
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Paje Beach to the Airport: $44
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Paje Beach to the Airport: $40
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Nungwi Beach to the Airport: $40
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Nungwi Beach to the Airport: $44
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Michamvi Beach to the Airport: $40
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Kendwa Beach to the Airport: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $30Quepos $51
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 Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class With Lunch: $52
- Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class : $59
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Traditional Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $77
- A Half Day Private Cooking Class At the Spice Farm: $90
- 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $101
- Full-Day Private Tour in Zanzibar with Cooking Class: $110
- Spice Tour; Secret Garden Restaurant; Stone Town; Dinner at The Rock Restaurant: $130
- Exclusive Private Sunset Dinner Sail along North Coast Zanzibar: $140
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dolphin tour,See food lunch ,Aquarium ,Nunqwi beach,Sunset cruse: $145
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Full Day Spice Tour, Prison Island and City Tours: $140
- Mnemba Island, Nungwi Village & Sea Turtle Experience: $160
- Stone City, Spice Farm and Prison Island Full Day Tour: $120
- Stone Town Historical tour: $26
- Stone town historical walking tour with Mohamed: $30
- 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-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island : $25
- 3h-Zanzibar Archipelago Shared ATV Experience: $79
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $25
- Quepos Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $26
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio Park: Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $27
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour : $29
- Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park: $29
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour with Beach Time: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $7.20Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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 Quepos is in Central 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Quepos?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Quepos, 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 Quepos?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Quepos. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar is cooler than Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Quepos in the Autumn?
Both Quepos and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Quepos is December to April. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Quepos. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Quepos in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in Quepos is the dry season. The hurricane season in Quepos is May to November. Zanzibar gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Quepos. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.