Is Zanzibar expensive to visit?
While Zanzibar is a popular place for travelers, it is also somewhat affordable and less expensive to visit. The average daily cost is $52, which is one of the many reasons for its popularity with tourists. When compared to other destinations in Africa, many visitors find it to be a reasonably affordable destination. It's in the top 25% of places in Africa for its affordability, and our cost analysis found it to be comparable to Meknes and Fez.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
How expensive is Zanzibar?
The average cost of traveling to Zanzibar can vary widely based on many factors, but our calculations based on previous travlers show that the average daily cost is $52 (U.S. Dollars). Your travel style, accommodation preferences, dining choices, and trip duration can alter your individual budget, as you can find a wide array of accommodation, food, and entertainment options available for your visit. Sticking to mid-range hotels, affordable restaurants, and public transit when available can keep your costs close to this calculated average. See more travel costs for Zanzibar here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Zanzibar?
Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a weekend trip to Zanzibar will cost around $155 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a weekend trip would cost $310.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Zanzibar?
On average, a one week trip to Zanzibar costs about $362 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a one week trip costs $723.
The Beach of Zanzibar, Tanzania
Is it expensive to backpack in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is a fairly common backpacker destination with more than 9 hostels in the area. Dorm beds in hostels average about $16 per night. (See hostel prices in Zanzibar here.) Keep in mind that you'll find a wide range in prices here, too. The most expensive beds are priced around $26 and the cheapest around $8 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Zanzibar.
- $24 for a dorm bed at Your Zanzibar Place
- $10 for a dorm bed at Drifters Backpackers
- $26 for a dorm bed at New Teddy's on the Beach
Are hotels expensive in Zanzibar?
From our analysis of hotel prices in Zanzibar, we can see that they are somewhat more expensive in comparison to the rest of the world. On average, a night in a hotel room costs approximately $63. The area hosts around 6 five-star hotels, averaging $197 per night. For those with an eye on both comfort and economy, three-star hotels present a reasonable choice at an average of $57 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more economical option at $48 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Zanzibar
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 6 | $197 |
| 4 stars | 14 | $77 |
| 3 stars | 35 | $57 |
| 2 stars | 10 | $48 |
| 1 star | 2 | $20 |
| No rating | 4 | $18 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Zanzibar?
Activities and things to do in Zanzibar can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $13 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $42.
- Zanzibar Stone Town Historical City Tour: $20
- Stonetown Private Half-day Walking Tour: $35
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $30
- Zanzibar Spice tour: $70
- Private Guided Stone Town Tour of Zanzibar: $25
- Private Stone Town, Nakupenda Beach and Prison Island Tour: $146
- Zanzibar Stone Town Highlight walking tour: $49
- Jozan Forest and Stone town Tour: $100
Is food expensive in Zanzibar?
Food in Zanzibar can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $17 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $24. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
- Full-Day Private Tour in Zanzibar with Cooking Class: $150
- Cooking Class Tour: $77
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
Is transportation expensive in Zanzibar?
Exploring local transportation in Zanzibar shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $11 per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $15. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.
More for Zanzibar
If you're planning a trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
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.