Which place is cheaper, Tokyo 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 Tokyo?
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 Tokyo 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 Tokyo?
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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesTokyo Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Tokyo $174
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $174. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Tokyo $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Tokyo $146
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Tokyo
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Tokyo? 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 Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Tokyo $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Luxury Zanzibar Airport Transfer in Mercedes-Benz: $300
- Luxury Zanzibar Airport Transfer in Range Rover Sport: $300
- Zanzibar Must-see Sights with Lunch and Transfers: $249
- Luxury Zanzibar Airport Transfer in Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: $220
- Arrival Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Zanzibar by Luxury Car: $211
- Zanzibar JetCar ride with drone video and transfer included: $168
- The Top Best Tour in Stone Town and Prison Island with Transfer: $130
- Zanzibar Tour in Secret Beach, Kuza Cave and Jozani with transfer: $120
- Private Transfer from Makunduchi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $97
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Makunduchi: $97
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Kizimkazi: $97
- Zanzibar Old Town Private Transfer: $95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- (HND) Haneda Airport Private Transfer to Central Tokyo: $95
- Accessible Haneda Airport Transfer with English-speaking Driver: $158
- Airport Shuttle Arrival Transfer : from Haneda Airport to Tokyo City: $61
- Airport Transfer: Haneda Airport and Tokyo 23 wards: $135
- Airport Transfer: Tokyo City to Narita Airport NRT by Luxury Van: $280
- Arrival Private Transfer: Haneda Airport HND to Tokyo in Sedan: $283
- Center Tokyo Private One Way Transfer To Haneda Airport: $108
- Center Tokyo Private One Way Transfer To Narita Airport (License): $133
- DECKS Tokyo Beach & Odaiba 1 Way Door to Door Shared Transfer: $51
- Departure Transfer from Tokyo City to Haneda Airport HND by van: $180
- Departure Transfer: Tokyo to Narita Airport NRT by Sedan Car: $248
- Disney/Universal Studio/Harry Potter Warner Bros Transfer One way: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 $28Tokyo $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Half-Day Kuza Cave Swimming Adventure and Cooking Class: $13
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- 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 Spice Tour & Cooking Class: $69
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- 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: $99
- Zanzibar Private Tour & Cooking Class: $110
- Spice Farm with Cooking Class + Lunch and Stone town (City tour): $125
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$4.96
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$4.96
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Meal at Airport$6.47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $19
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $22
- Tsukiji Market Culture and Food Tour with 40-Year Resident: $25
- Shinjuku: 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $28
- Asakusa: Senso-ji Sightseeing & Street Food Tour with Photos: $29
- Shinjuku Chef‐Led Night Food Tour — What Guides Don’t Show: $29
- Shinjuku 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $32
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour: $32
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $38
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Private Yanaka District Walking & Food Tour: $44
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Tokyo $65
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar: $270
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour: $19
- 3 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- 3inONE, Private Spice, Stone Town & Prison Island Tours: $120
- 4h Quad Adventures in Nungwi / Kendwa: $68
- 5 HOURS Stone Town Tour Including Pick-up and Drop off: $70
- A Full Day Private Tour To Prison Island + Nakupenda + Stone Town: $150
- A Full Day Stone Town and Spice Farm Private Tour: $100
- A Half Day Private Dolphins And Snorkeling Tour To Mnemba Island: $95
- A Half Day Private Nungwi Village Tour (With Turtles Aquarium): $78
- A Half Day Private Prison Island Tour: $106
- A Half Day Private Stone Town Tour: $85
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Imperial Palace or Edo Castle Time Trip Learning Walking Tour: $3.16
- Tsukiji Market Early Morning Tour: $6.33
- Tokyo Walking Tour 2h15 and 19 audio reviews: $6.75
- Cross Roppongi Karaoke Nightclub Ticket (For Foreign): $6.76
- Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Admission Ticket + Special Exhibition (when being held): $7.61
- TOKYO Audio Guide Tour in The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace: $7.61
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Tokyo: $8.15
- Tokyo Metro Subway Ticket: $8.85
- Hidden Yanaka & Nezu: Authentic Old Tokyo Escape – Walking Tour: $9.51
- Tokyo / Shibuya / Yokohama Tours! Choose, Explore and Enjoy!: $10
- Shibuya drinking tour: $10
- Chiikawa Bakery Exploration with Shopping Ticket: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Tokyo $31
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $35
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Tokyo Sake Terroir Journey – Guided by Sake Brewery Professional: $89
- Mt. Fuji & Hakushu Distillery Whisky Museum Bus Tour from Tokyo: $89
- Tokyo Shinjuku Gay Bar Crawl with Drinks: $90
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $101
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $108
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo: $121
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $130
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $146
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo is in Asia, 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Tokyo?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Tokyo, 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 Tokyo?
Tokyo 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 Tokyo in the Summer?
Both Tokyo 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. Also, many visitors come to Tokyo in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Tokyo in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Tokyo fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Tokyo. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tokyo receives 137 hours of full sun.
Tokyo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Tokyo. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Tokyo 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Tokyo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Tokyo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, most visitors come to Tokyo for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Tokyo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Tokyo averages at about 18°C (64°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Tokyo during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Tokyo receives 129 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Tokyo. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Tokyo 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Tokyo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Tokyo. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Tokyo. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Tokyo fluctuates around 5°C (42°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 Tokyo. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tokyo receives 175 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Tokyo. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Tokyo 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Tokyo in the Spring?
Both Tokyo 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, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Tokyo in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Tokyo fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tokyo during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Tokyo receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tokyo. It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Tokyo. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Tokyo receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Tokyo 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Tokyo and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Tokyo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.