A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zanzibar vs. Vilnius for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zanzibar or Vilnius?

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 Vilnius 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 Vilnius?

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.

Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital and largest city in the country of Lithuania. It has a population of more than 500,000 residents and is located in the valley between the Neris River and the Vilnia River in the southeastern part of the country. Visitors come to the city for its beautiful Old Town, impressive architecture, and fascinating culture. In 2009 it was named the European Capital of Culture along with the city of Linz, in Austria.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Lithuania.


Which place is cheaper, Vilnius or Zanzibar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Vilnius is $136. 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 Vilnius in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zanzibar $24
    Vilnius $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zanzibar $48
    Vilnius $96
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Vilnius

Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Vilnius? 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.

Hotels in Zanzibar


Hotels in Vilnius


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 Vilnius Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zanzibar $11
    Vilnius $8.44

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vilnius

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Vilnius:


  • Train to Airport
    $0.93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vilnius

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vilnius:

  • CO2-Offset Arrival Transfer from Vilnius VNO Airport to Vilnius: $100
  • From Suburbs Hot Air Balloon Ride w/ Hotel Transfer: $164
  • Hot air balloon flight Vilnius, Trakai with Transfer & Shampagne: $199
  • Premium Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Trakai (transfer included): $206
  • Private Transfer: from Vilnius to Klaipeda via Trakai Castle: $276
  • Private Vilnius Airport Departure Transfer: $41
  • Vilnius Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: $70
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride with Hotel Transfer: $235
  • Jewish Heritage Sites Private Tour with Transfer: $235
  • Trakai Tour with Audio Guide and Minibus Transfers: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Vilnius?

Prices for flights to both Vilnius 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Zanzibar $28
    Vilnius $74

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

Typical Food Prices in Vilnius

Some typical examples of dining costs in Vilnius are as follows:


  • Dinner for Two
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vilnius

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vilnius.

  • Dinner with a local family: $97
  • Cooking Class in Vilnius: $112
  • Zeppelin Cooking Class: $117

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zanzibar $13
    Vilnius $11

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Vilnius

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Vilnius are as follows:


  • Walking Tour
    $6.74

Tours and Activities in Vilnius

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vilnius are as follows:

  • Vilnius Self-Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
  • Vilnius Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.08
  • Secrets of Old Vilnius Smartphone App GPS Audio Walking Tour: $7.50
  • Iron Wolf to Gate of Dawn Self Guided Tour of Vilnius: $8.99
  • The Old Town of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Audio Tour of the South Part of the Vilnius Old Town: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour of Vilnius Old Town Core: $11
  • Audio Tour of Vilnius Old Town Core: $12
  • Live guide tour via WhatsApp - Vilnius Ghetto: $12
  • Skip the Line: Europos Parkas, Open-Air Museum Ticket Vilnius, Lithuania: $13
  • Audio Tour of Vilnius Old Town Core and the South Part 2in1: $14
  • Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zanzibar $6.75
    Vilnius $7.08

Typical Alcohol Prices in Vilnius

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Vilnius from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $5.06

Sample the Local Flavors in Vilnius

Also in Vilnius, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Vilnius Private Pub & Bar Crawl Tour & Hidden Gems: $62
  • Pub Crawl with Welcome Drink and Traditional Snacks: $77


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Vilnius, we can see that Vilnius 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 Vilnius 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 Vilnius would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vilnius 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 Vilnius Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Vilnius?

Vilnius has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Vilnius, 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 Vilnius?

Vilnius 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 Vilnius in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Vilnius. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, many travelers come to Vilnius for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Vilnius. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Vilnius fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vilnius this time of the year. In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vilnius during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Vilnius receives 219 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Vilnius. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Vilnius receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Zanzibar 25°C (77°F) 
    Vilnius 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Vilnius in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Vilnius. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Vilnius in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Zanzibar is much warmer than Vilnius in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Vilnius fluctuates around 8°C (46°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 Vilnius. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vilnius receives 94 hours of full sun.

Zanzibar usually gets more rain in October than Vilnius. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vilnius receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Zanzibar 25°C (78°F) 
    Vilnius 8°C (46°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Vilnius in the Winter?

Both Vilnius 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, most visitors come to Vilnius for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Vilnius can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Vilnius. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Vilnius averages at about -5°C (23°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Vilnius during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Vilnius receives 36 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Vilnius. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Vilnius receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Zanzibar 28°C (82°F) 
    Vilnius -5°C (23°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Vilnius in the Spring?

Both Vilnius 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. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Vilnius because of the natural beauty.

In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Vilnius. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Vilnius fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In the spring, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vilnius. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vilnius receives 164 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Vilnius. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Vilnius receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Zanzibar 27°C (81°F) 
    Vilnius 7°C (45°F)

Typical Weather for Vilnius and Zanzibar

Zanzibar Vilnius
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) -5°C (23°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 52 mm (2 in) -4°C (26°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 28°C (83°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 1°C (33°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 7°C (45°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
May 26°C (78°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 14°C (57°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 24°C (76°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 18°C (65°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 25°C (76°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 13°C (56°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 25°C (78°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 8°C (46°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 2°C (36°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) -2°C (29°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)