Which place is cheaper, Roatan 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 Roatan?
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 Roatan 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Roatan? 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 $11Roatan $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $16
- Premium Private Transfer in Zanzibar – Airport, Hotels, Beaches: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Hotel Transfer Private Taxi Service: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer and Island Shuttle Service: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Private Transfer from Abeid Amani Karume Airport to Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer Private Taxi to Hotels in Zanzibar: $20
- Private Zanzibar Airport Transfer: $20
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town and Beyond: $20
- Airport Taxi and Hotel Transfer Service in Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Zanzibar Aiport transfer services: $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Airport, Hotel or Cruise Port, Ferry Roatan Private Transfer: $35
- Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- East Sightseeing, Mangrove Tunnel Snorkel, Hole in the Wall, with Transfer: $115
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $145
- Honduras Airport(RTB) to Roatan -Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $110
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $119
- Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $150
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $28Roatan $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Zanzi Nights Stone Town Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $45
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Zanzibar Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $50
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class and Spice Farm: $59
- Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class: $69
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Cooking Class Tour: $75
- Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
- Zanzibar Spice and Night Market Cooking and Street Food Tour: $80
- 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $97
- A Half Day Private Cooking Class At the Spice Farm: $107
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Private Roundtrip Transfer to West End for Dinner and Nightlife: $70
- Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Roatan $25
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Podcast Tour Zanzibar City The Black Gold and the Broken Chains: $5.48
- Private Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Tour: $14
- Zanzibar Private Spice Farm Tour With Optional Lunch: $17
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $17
- Stone Town Private Tour in Zanzibar: $17
- Stone Town tour: $18
- Stone Town Guided Walking Tour: Shopping, Culture & History: $18
- Zanzibar Stone Town Private Walking Tour With Old Slave Market: $18
- Stone Town Hidden Gems: Historical Walking Tour with Local Guide: $20
- Stone Town Walking Tour Explore Zanzibar's Historical Heart: $20
- Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise with Traditional Drums and Fruits: $20
- Zanzibar Spice Tour to Mussa Village: $20
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Custom Private Roatan Shuttle Tour: Explore at Your Own Pace: $30
- Roatan 35-Minute Private Guided Canopy Zipline Tour: $40
- Roatan Comprehensive Real Estate Tour Experience: $45
- Roatan Zipline & Eco walk/Suspension Bridge Combo Tours: $45
- Roatan Island Tours, Nature Parks and Attractions by Land and Sea: $45
- 1 Stop Snorkel Adventure with Beach Break: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Roatan Fully Customizable Private Tour Your Day Your Way: $45
- Roatan VIP island tour in Honduras: $45
- Customizable Island Tour While on Roatan: $45
- Private Customize Roatán Island Tour chocolate Rum local guide: $48
- Roatan VIP Free-Style Private Tour: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.76Roatan $6.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
- Roatan ATV Adventure, Island Tour and Craft Brewery Experience: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Roatan, we can see that Zanzibar is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zanzibar is in Africa and Roatan 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Zanzibar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zanzibar than you might in Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zanzibar Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Roatan?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Roatan, 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.
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.