Which place is cheaper, Cairns 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 Cairns?
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 Cairns 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 Cairns?
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.
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesCairns Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $66Cairns $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $66, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $116. 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 Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $26Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $52Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Cairns? 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 Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $12Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Premium Transfer from Zanzibar Airport ⇋ Kiwengwa: $65
- Premium Transfer from Zanzibar Airport ⇋ Kendwa: $65
- Jozani Forest Guided Tour, Red Colobus and transfer: $67
- Zanzibar transfers and Taxi: $35
- Zanzibar taxi service/airport transfer: $60
- Zanzibar Taxi & Transfer Services – From Airport to All Resorts: $20
- Zanzibar Shared Departure Transfer: $56
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Paje Beach to the Airport: $40
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Paje Beach to the Airport: $44
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Nungwi Beach to the Airport: $44
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Nungwi Beach to the Airport: $40
- Zanzibar Private Departure Transfer from Michamvi Beach to the Airport: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Cairns City: $15
- Airport Transfers between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove: $25
- Cairns Airport (CNS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Port Douglas Hotel or Address): $230
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $51
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas - Arrival Private Transfer: $188
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $184
- Cairns Airport Shared Transfer to Cairns: $15
- Cairns Airport Transfers: $161
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer 1-7 Pax: $175
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return : $269
- Cairns Airport(CNS) to Palm Cove hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- Cairns Airport: Shared Transfer: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns 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 $30Cairns $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class With Lunch: $52
- Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class : $59
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Traditional Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $77
- A Half Day Private Cooking Class At the Spice Farm: $90
- 5 Hours Guided Spice Tour and Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $101
- Full-Day Private Tour in Zanzibar with Cooking Class: $110
- Spice Tour; Secret Garden Restaurant; Stone Town; Dinner at The Rock Restaurant: $130
- Exclusive Private Sunset Dinner Sail along North Coast Zanzibar: $140
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $67
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $67
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $92
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $93
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $96
- Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $118
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with 3 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $171
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $174
- Paronella Park Rainforest Full-Day Tour with Dinner: $66,130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dolphin tour,See food lunch ,Aquarium ,Nunqwi beach,Sunset cruse: $145
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Full Day Spice Tour, Prison Island and City Tours: $140
- Mnemba Island, Nungwi Village & Sea Turtle Experience: $160
- Stone City, Spice Farm and Prison Island Full Day Tour: $120
- Stone Town Historical tour: $26
- Stone town historical walking tour with Mohamed: $30
- 2 Days Tour In Zanzibar: $180
- 2 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar: $270
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $20
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island : $25
- 3h-Zanzibar Archipelago Shared ATV Experience: $79
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$36
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Single Admission Ticket: $10
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $10
- Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket: $13
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $15
- Kuranda: Riverboat Tour: $20
- Cairns Shore Excursion: Cairns City Sights & Surrounds Tour: $24
- Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Admission Tickets: $26
- Hipster and Street Art Walking Tour: $29
- Tomb of the Pharaohs Entry Ticket: $32
- Cairns Tomb Of The Pharaohs General Admission Ticket: $32
- Cairns Pub & Club Tour: $34
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket with Koala Photo: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $7.20Cairns $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $44
- Cairns Brewery Tours: $148
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Cairns, we can see that Cairns 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 Cairns is in Pacific, 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 Cairns would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cairns 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 Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Cairns?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Cairns, 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 Cairns?
Cairns 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 Cairns in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Cairns. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Zanzibar is cooler than Cairns in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Cairnsin January. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Cairns in the Autumn?
Both Cairns and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Cairns. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Cairnsin April. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Cairns is April to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Zanzibar during the winter 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 winter months attract visitors to Cairns because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Cairnsin July. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Cairnsin July. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Cairns in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Cairns. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Cairns in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in October.
Zanzibar gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Cairnsin October. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. April to October in Cairns is the dry season. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 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.