Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Vientiane?
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 Vientiane 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 Vientiane?
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.
Vientiane
You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.
While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Vientiane $15
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is $15. 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 Vientiane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Vientiane $6.00
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Vientiane $12
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Vientiane
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Vientiane? 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 Vientiane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Vientiane $2.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Zanzibar transfer and taxi services: $15
- Departure Private Transfer from Island to Zanzibar Airport ZNZ by Standard Van: $17
- Zanzibar Airport Transfer ( Tax) To Stone Town: $19
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Stone Town Hotels to the Airport: $20
- Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
- Private Transfer from Abeid Amani Karume Airport to Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $20
- Zanzibar Shared Departure Transfer: $21
- Zanzibar Airport transfers and Taxi services: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Vientiane Airport Transfer: Wattay airport to hotel - Private transfer: $15
- Vientiane Private Airport and Hotel Transfers: $9.00
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Vientiane?
Prices for flights to both Vientiane 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 $17Vientiane $6.30
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Private Evening Food Tour of Laos: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Vientiane $3.53
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Africa's Paradises Full Sightseeing Package Tours: $15
- Easy Stone Town Tour: $20
- Stone Town tour: $20
- Stone Town Historical Walking Tour: $20
- Zanzibar Stone Town Historical City Tour: $20
- Stone town walking tour ( City tour): $23
- Stone Town Tour without transport: $24
- Stone Town Private Walking Tour: $25
- Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Private Stone Town City Tour Zanzibar : $25
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $25
- Zanzibar Tours & Taxi Services : $25
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- Vientiane ATV and Canopy Walking Experience: $48
- Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
- From Hue: Hue to Vientiane Bus tickets: $61
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $67
- Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $69
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $81
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Vientiane: $82
- Vientiane City Day Tour and Buddha Park Visit with Lunch: $88
- 2 Days Private Tour in Vientiane and Vang Vieng: $90
- Private Vientiane Tour - include Buddha Park: $100
- Private Tour: Full-day Vientiane's Must-See Sights and River Sunset with Lunch: $101
- Private Tour: Half-day City Guided Tour of Vientiane: $113
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Vientiane $2.34
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Vientiane, we can see that Zanzibar is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zanzibar is in Africa and Vientiane 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 Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane 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 Zanzibar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zanzibar than you might in Vientiane.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zanzibar Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Vientiane?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Vientiane, 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 Vientiane?
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 Vientiane in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Vientiane. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Vientiane receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Vientiane. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Vientiane during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 141 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Zanzibar is cooler than Vientiane. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zanzibar in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Vientiane averages at about 30°C (85°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Vientiane 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Vientiane in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Vientiane. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than Vientiane. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Vientiane. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 222 hours of full sun.
In October, Zanzibar is generally cooler than Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (78°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Vientiane 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Vientiane in the Winter?
Both Vientiane and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Vientiane. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vientiane during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.
Zanzibar is a little warmer than Vientiane in the winter. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Vientiane fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Vientiane 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Vientiane in the Spring?
Both Vientiane 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Vientiane. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Vientiane. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 230 hours of full sun.
Vientiane can become quite hot in the spring. In the spring, Zanzibar is cooler than Vientiane. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zanzibar in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Vientiane averages at about 31°C (88°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Vientiane 31°C (88°F)
Typical Weather for Vientiane and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Vientiane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.