Which place is cheaper, Zurich or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Zurich?
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 Zurich 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 Zurich?
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.
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Zurich $271
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Zurich is $271. 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 Zurich in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Zurich $171
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Zurich $342
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Zurich
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Zurich? 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 Zurich Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Zurich $36
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
- Airport Transfers: $22
- Zanzibar Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
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City Pass (2)$29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Airport Zurich Transfer Mercedes E Class 3pax: $122
- Airport Zurich Transfer Mercedes V-Class 6pax: $167
- Arrival Private Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City by Luxury Van: $138
- Arrival Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich in Luxury Van: $91
- Arrival Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City in Private Car/Van: $95
- Davos: Private Transfer to/from Zurich Airport: $608
- Departure Private Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Van: $138
- Departure Transfer from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Private Car/Van: $95
- EnglishPrivate One Way Transfer Zurich Airport To Davos: $377
- From Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to Lucerne: $317
- From Canyoning in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $260
- From Rafting in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Zurich?
Prices for flights to both Zurich 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 $17Zurich $62
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 Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$13
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Zurich $36
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
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour & Exotic Fruit Lunch: $25
- Stonetown City (Walking Tour): $25
- Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
- Private Stone Town City Tour Zanzibar : $25
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Zurich in the Mirror of the Past: Self-Guided Reading Tour: $5.52
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.40
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.46
- Zurich Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.46
- Best of Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.95
- Fun adventure tour of Outdoor Escape Game: $8.60
- Historical Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Through the city of 1,000 Fountains: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Zürich: Swiss Finance Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- The Dark Side of Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Zurich in the Mirror of the Past: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Zurich $30
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour with Shots and Snacks: $33
- Informative wine tasting with Italian appetizers in the secure wine cellar: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Zurich, we can see that Zurich 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 Zurich 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich 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 Zurich Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Zurich?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Zurich, 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 Zurich?
Zurich 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 Zurich in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Zurich. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Zurich for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Zurich. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Zurich fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zurich 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 Zurich during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Zurich. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Zurich 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Zurich in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Zurich. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Zurich in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Zurich in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Zurich fluctuates around 13°C (56°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 Zurich. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 120 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Zurich. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Zurich 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Zurich in the Winter?
Both Zurich 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 Zurich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Zurich can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Zurich. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Zurich averages at about 3°C (37°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Zurich during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives around the same amount of rain as Zurich. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Zurich 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Zurich in the Spring?
Both Zurich 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 spring months attract visitors to Zurich because of the natural beauty.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Zurich. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Zurich fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Zanzibar often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Zurich. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 150 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than Zurich. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Zurich 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Zurich and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Zurich | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.