Which place is cheaper, Utrecht 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 Utrecht?
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 Utrecht 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 Utrecht?
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.
Utrecht
Utrecht is both a province and a city in the Netherlands. The city is a unique university city with a lively atmosphere. Imagine Amsterdam but smaller, and with fewer tourists. Utrecht has the same underlying historical/magical feel as Amsterdam, but is full of locals rather than crowds of tourists. It has a population of about 300,000 making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Netherlands, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Netherlands.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesUtrecht Prices
Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Utrecht $255
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Utrecht is $255. 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 Utrecht in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Utrecht $117
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Utrecht $234
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Utrecht
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Utrecht? 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 Utrecht Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Utrecht $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Airport and Hotels Transfers: $15
- Premium Private Transfer in Zanzibar – Airport, Hotels, Beaches: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers Pickup and Drop off/departure: $20
- Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $20
- Airport Taxi and Hotel Transfer Service in Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels: $20
- Zanzibar Departure Transfer from Stone Town Hotels to the Airport: $20
- Abeid Amani Karume Airport Pick-Up & Hotel Transfer in Zanzibar: $20
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town and Beyond: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Private Transfer to/from Hotel: $20
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Utrecht
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Utrecht:
- Private taxi transfer from Utrecht to Amsterdam: $110
- Private transfer from Utrecht to AMS Schiphol Airport: $130
- Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Den Haag: $20
- Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Rotterdam: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Utrecht?
Prices for flights to both Utrecht 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 $28Utrecht $109
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
- 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
- Spice Tour; Secret Garden Restaurant; Stone Town; Dinner at The Rock Restaurant: $140
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Utrecht
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Utrecht.
- Guided Food Tour: $80
- Food Tour by Bike: enjoy 6 bites and cycle trough Utrecht: $81
- Utrecht Food Tour: 7 food stops and a fantastic local guide: $81
- Utrecht Bike & Bite: The Ultimate Local Food Tour with Guide: $84
- Utrecht Walking Food Tour with 7 Gourmet Dishes & Local Guide: $84
- 10 Tastes of Food Tour with Full Lunch and 2 Drinks: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Utrecht $50
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
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour Experience: $18
- Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar: $18
- Stone Town Guided Walking Tour: Shopping, Culture & History: $18
- Stone Town tour: $18
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $19
- Zanzibar Green Tour Spice Farm and Butterfly Centre: $20
Tours and Activities in Utrecht
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Utrecht are as follows:
- Utrecht 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local: $3.54
- Private Walking Tour of Nieuwegracht Utrecht Netherlands: $5.90
- Utrecht Monster Mystery: Exploration Game and Tour: $7.82
- Utrecht Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.42
- Uniquely An Audio Tour of its Charming City Centre: $9.99
- Utrecht Historic City: a Self-Guided Augmented Reality Tour: $12
- Castles, Canals and Good Folk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Utrecht: $12
- Pub Trail Utrecht An Adventure Full of Surprises: $13
- De Haar Castle Gardens and Park Only Entry Ticket: $15
- Lofen Palace with Entry Ticket & Guide: $15
- Cultural and Historical Audio Guided Walking Tour of Utrecht: $15
- Utrecht Cultural self guided Audio Cultural & Historical Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.75Utrecht $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Utrecht
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Utrecht:
- Ultimate Leo’s Pub Crawl with Local Host & Shots: $36
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $47
- Ludwig's Private Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $576
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Utrecht, we can see that Utrecht 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 Utrecht 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 Utrecht would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Utrecht 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 Utrecht Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Utrecht?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 39% larger than the population of Utrecht. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Utrecht, 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 Utrecht?
Utrecht 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 Utrecht in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Utrecht. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Utrecht in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Zanzibar is a little warmer than Utrecht. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Utrecht averages at about 17°C (62°F).
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Utrecht during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Utrecht receives 194 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Utrecht. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Utrecht 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Utrecht in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Utrecht. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Utrecht for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Utrecht. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Utrecht fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Utrecht. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Utrecht receives 100 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Utrecht. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Utrecht 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Utrecht in the Winter?
Both Utrecht and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Utrecht because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Utrecht can be very cold. Zanzibar is much warmer than Utrecht in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Utrecht fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Utrecht during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Utrecht receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Utrecht. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Utrecht 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Utrecht in the Spring?
Both Utrecht and Zanzibar during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Utrecht this time of year.
In the spring, Zanzibar is much warmer than Utrecht. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Utrecht averages at about 8°C (46°F).
In the spring, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Utrecht. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Utrecht receives 156 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Utrecht. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Utrecht 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Utrecht and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Utrecht | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.