Which place is cheaper, Rome 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 Rome?
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 Rome 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 Rome?
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.
Rome
Rome is the kind of city that refuses to stay in the past, even though history is everywhere you look. Ancient ruins rise beside buzzing cafes, scooters zip past Renaissance palaces, and quiet cobblestone lanes suddenly open onto grand piazzas filled with fountains, churches, and street performers. It is a city of layers: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, neighborhood trattorias, stylish boutiques, and late-night gelato walks all woven together into one unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the art, the food, the history, or the simple pleasure of wandering without a plan, Rome has a way of making every day feel like a discovery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesRome Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Rome $241
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Rome is $241. 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 Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Rome $105
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Rome $210
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Rome
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Rome? 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 Rome Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Rome $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Abeid Amani Karume Airport Pick-Up & Hotel Transfer in Zanzibar: $20
- AirPort & Sea Ferry Transfer Zone: $47
- Airport Taxi and Hotel Transfer Service in Zanzibar: $20
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $15
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Airport/port Transfer: $70
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport to Nungwi Beach Zanzibar: $40
- Half Day Zanzibar City Tour with Airport Transfer: $30
- Jet Ski to Zanzibar with photos and video and transfer included: $90
- Premium Private Transfer in Zanzibar – Airport, Hotels, Beaches: $20
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town and Beyond: $20
- Private Airport transfers to any hotel in Zanzibar (Arrivals): $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)$2.33
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Train to the Airport$17
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Taxi to Airport$52
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- “Skip the Taxi Line : Private FCO ↔ Rome Transfer with Pro Driver”: $53
- Airport Transfer: Ciampino Airport CIA to Rome by Business Car: $103
- Airport Transfer: Ciampino Airport CIA to Rome by Luxury Van: $110
- Airport Transfer: Fiumicino Airport FCO to Rome by Business Car: $124
- Appian Catacombs Guided Tour with Transfere: $74
- Arrival Transfer: Fiumicino Airport FCO to Rome by Business Car: $124
- Arrival in Airport Transfer & Exclusive City Introduction: $264
- Caracalla Baths Ticket with Transfer and Audio Guide App: $70
- Catacombs Tour with Transfer – Optional Capuchin Crypt or Trevi: $58
- Catacombs in Rome with private transfer: $130
- Ciampino Airport transfer: $118
- Ciampino to Rome city transfers: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Rome?
Prices for flights to both Rome 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 $28Rome $97
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
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$16
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.48
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Cafe e doce$4.65
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Pizza (Fast Food)$3.08
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$37
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Cheese and bread$12
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Espresso$2.33
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Dinner$67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Pizzas and Piazzas: A Self-Guided Walk of Rome’s Culinary Culture: $20
- Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome: $40
- Rome Food Tour for Breakfast Lovers: $41
- Rome Pizza Making Class for Families in Trastevere: $46
- Rome Food Tour: Tastings in the Jewish Ghetto & Campo de' Fiori: $46
- Rome Early Morning Breakfast and Sightseeing Food Tour: $46
- Cappuccino, Moka and Tiramisù Cooking Class in Central Rome: $48
- The Original Fettuccine & Tiramisu Cooking Class in Rome: $50
- Rome Street Food Tour: Eat Like a Local: $51
- Cooking Class in the Heart of Pizza and Tiramisu Making: $52
- Rome Street Food Tour and Jewish Ghetto Area Guided Sightseeing: $53
- Tasty Rome Street Food Tour around Campo de' Fiori Market & Jewish Ghetto: $53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Rome $42
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Zanzibar Unveiled From Slaves to Sultans Audio Tour: $7.08
- Nyange Sandbank & Snorkelling tour with BBQ lunch: $12
- Stone Town Hidden Gems: Historical Walking Tour with Local Guide: $13
- Private Stone Town Cultural & Historical Walking Tour - Zanzibar: $16
- Private Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Tour: $16
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $18
- Stone Town Guided Walking Tour: Shopping, Culture & History: $18
- Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar: $18
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour Experience: $18
- Stone Town tour: $18
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $19
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)$80
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$38
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Roma Pass$35
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$23
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Segway Tour$87
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Rome Best Kept Secrets: Self-Guided City Tour: $3.53
- Colosseum and Roman Forum Sightseeing Area Walking Tour: $3.77
- Ancient City Walking Tour at Twilight: $4.13
- Hidden Treasures — A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.71
- Historical Walking Tour in Rome City Center with Hidden Gems: $4.72
- Rome Art Walking Tour Who Killed Caravaggio: $4.72
- Saint Peter's Basilica Vatican Tour: $4.72
- Experience Rome Trevi Fountain with Ticket: $4.72
- Tour of Rome to Visit the Most Iconic Monuments: $5.00
- Rome Timeless Trail Self Guided Walking Tour with App: $5.50
- Rome Essential : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $5.90
- Rome Pantheon Entry Ticket: $5.90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Rome $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine$7.56
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Pint of Beer$7.38
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Beer$12
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Cabaret and Burlesque Show: $35
- Rome’s Exclusive Wine Tasting: Sip Near the Colosseum!: $38
- Rome's Ultimate Party aka the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl: $40
- Winery Tour, Wine Tasting near Rome with Optional Lunch: $46
- Wine Tasting in Trastevere with Food and Gelato: $50
- Rome Premium Wine Tasting: 3, 4, 5 or 6 Wines with Expert Guide: $53
- EAT AND DRINK LIKE A LOCAL - Wine Tasting in Trastevere w/ Gelato: $53
- Premium Wine Tasting Experience by the Vatican: $59
- Burlesque lessons with the best Italian stars: $59
- Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Underground Cellar in Rome: $64
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $65
- Rome Bar Crawl: Interactive Night Tour with Games and Karaoke: $77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Rome?
Rome has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Rome, 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 Rome?
Rome 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 Rome in the Summer?
Both Rome and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Rome in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Rome. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Rome during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Rome. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Rome 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Rome in the Autumn?
Both Rome and Zanzibar during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rome for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Rome. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Rome averages at about 17°C (63°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Rome. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Rome. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Rome 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Rome in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Rome. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rome in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Rome. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Rome during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rome. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Rome 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Rome in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Rome. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Rome for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Rome in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Rome. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar receives a lot of rain in the spring. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Rome. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Rome 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Rome and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Rome | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.