Which place is cheaper, Saint John 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 Saint John?
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 Saint John 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 Saint John?
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.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, and The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $66Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $66, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $26Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $52Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Saint John? 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 $12Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Airport /Hotel Transfers in Zanzibar : $25
- Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Arrivals: $20
- Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Departures: $55
- 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
- Arrival Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Zanzibar by Luxury Car: $250
- Discover Jozani Forest & Rock Restaurant W/ Transfer – Zanzibar: $50
- Explore Jozani Forest & Rock Restaurant with Transfer – Zanzibar: $50
- Guided Tour of Stone Town's Historic Sites + Transfer – Zanzibar: $20
- Half Day Zanzibar City Tour with Airport Transfer: $30
- Jet Ski to Zanzibar with photos and video and transfer included: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 $30Saint John $97
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Zanzibar Organic Spice Farm Tour: $13
- Zanzibar : Stone Town Tour,history without transport: $14
- Spice Tour Zanzibar : $15
- Zanzibar stonetown walking tour with local guide: $18
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $20
- City tours zanzibar : $20
- Zanzibar stone town city tour: $20
- Stone Town tour: $20
- Zanzibar Green Tour Park Experience: $20
- Stone Town Historical & Cultural Walking Adventure – Zanzibar: $20
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $24
- Stone Town Tour, Historical & Cultural Landmarks in - Zanzibar: $24
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $7.20Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar or Saint John?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Saint John. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Zanzibar is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Saint John. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Saint John. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Saint John. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Zanzibar receives a lot of rain in the spring. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Saint John. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.