Which place is cheaper, Tokyo or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Tokyo $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $157. 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 $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Tokyo $154
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:
- From Mystery Day Safari with Transfer: $500
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Daressalam with two way transfers : $260
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar Airport to Kiwengwa: $200
- Safari blue tour with Lunch and Transfers: $180
- Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise with Transfers.: $149
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
- Off-Road Quad Bike Adventure with hotel transfer: $138
- Arrival Private Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Island by Luxury Car: $125
- Departure Private Transfer from Island to Zanzibar Airport ZNZ by Luxury Sedan: $125
- Ferry Zanzibar :Transfer services: $120
- Jozani Forest and Spice Farm Tour With Transfer: $110
- Fishing Boat Tour with Transfer: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tokyo to Narita Airport: $221
- Airport transfer between Haneda and Tokyo or Disney or Yokohama: $122
- Arrival Private Transfer: Haneda Airport HND to Tokyo in Sedan: $280
- Departure Private Transfer Tokyo to Haneda Airport (HND): $187
- Departure Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND in Sedan: $278
- Departure Transfer from Tokyo City to Haneda Airport HND by van: $75
- From Haneda Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Tokyo City: $92
- From Tokyo:Private tour to Kamakura with Round-way transfer: $599
- Fuji-Q Highland 1-Day Pass with Private Transfer: $239
- Hakuba: Private transfer from/to Tokyo/HND by minibus max 9: $843
- Haneda Airport (HND) Private Transfer to Central Tokyo: $110
- Haneda Airport (HND) to/from Tokyo 23 Ward Private Transfer: $110
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 $17Tokyo $37
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
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- An romantic cooking Lesson + Spice Farm Tour: $55
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Zanzibar Cooking Class & Spice Tour : $59
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $60
- Spice Farm tour & Local cooking lesson with Lunch: $64
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $65
- Stone Town Private Food Tour with a Guide: $65
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$5.23
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.23
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Meal at Airport$6.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Takoyaki cooking experience in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: $23
- Easy Ramen Cooking Experience in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: $26
- 2 Hours Japanese Style Pub and Food Tour in Ueno: $32
- Private Sushi Roll Cooking Class in Japan: $39
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $40
- Sushi Making Experience in Tsukiji 90-Minute cooking class: $54
- Tokyo Best Cooking Class！ Sushi making class in Tsukiji: $55
- Japanese Traditional Cooking Class: $58
- Wagyu and 7 Japanese Dishes Cooking Class: $61
- 【Contemporary Culture】Food tour I Always Visit in Shibuya: $65
- Japanese Home Cooking Class near Tokyo Disneyland: $66
- 【Contemporary Culture】food tour I Always Visit in Shibuya: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Tokyo $69
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Spice Tour & Mangapwani Cave Tour: $80
- Stone City, Spice Farm and Prison Island Full Day Tour: $130
- Stonetown Private Half-day Walking Tour: $35
- Zanzibar Spice Tour : $47
- 10 DAYS MOSHI TO ZANZIBAR BIKE TOUR: $4,286
- 2day Zanzibar adventure: Prison Island & Sandbank (all-incl): $538
- 3 HOURS PRISON ISLAND TOUR IN ZANZIBAR: $60
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $30
- 3-Day Selous Game Reserve Safari & Cultural tour with Flight: $1,345
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island : $26
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Japan: Zen and Tea Ceremony Audio Guided Tour: $3.27
- Asakusa Walking Tour with an Experienced Japanese Comedian: $3.34
- Ancient Orient Museum Admission Ticket: $3.92
- Samurai and Bushido Audio Guided Tour: $4.71
- 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour Subway Ticket: $5.23
- Audio Guide Tour: Deeper Experience of Shinjuku Sightseeing: $6.54
- Asakusa（Tokyo）: Smartphone Audio Guide Tour: $6.54
- Local Food and Bar Tour in Ginza: $6.54
- Harajuku: Audio Guide Tour of Takeshita Street: $6.54
- Akihabara (Tokyo): English Audio Guide Tour: $6.54
- Tokyo Shibuya Bar Hopping Tour: $6.54
- Shibuya Sightseeing with an Audio Guide: $6.54
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Tokyo $33
Sample the Local Flavors in Zanzibar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zanzibar:
- Pub Crawl & Club Experience: $30
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$3.92
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: $25
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Weekly Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $52
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $80
- Toshimaya Sake Brewery Tour with Sake Tasting: $92
- barhopping tour&bar crawl in Retro Town Shimokitazawa: $98
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo : $104
- Tokyo | 3 Hours Brewery Tour with Sake Sommelier: $105
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $137
- Private Local Craft Brewery Tour in Tokyo: $150
- Wooden Barrel Sake Brewery Tour and Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $167
- Private Walking Tour with Sake Brewery Visit in Chichibu: $190
- Private tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and riverside walk.: $233
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.