Which place is cheaper, Jaco 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 Jaco?
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 Jaco 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 Jaco?
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.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesJaco Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $66Jaco $119
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $66, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $119. 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 Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $26Jaco $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $52Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Jaco? 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 Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $12Jaco -
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 Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $144
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $204
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- Private Direct SJO ↔ Jaco Beach/Los Sueños Transfer Service: $70
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Jaco Beach Puntarenas: $66
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Playa Jaco Puntarenas: $63
- Shuttle & transfer rides to SJO Airport Costa Rica: $55
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco 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 $30Jaco $36
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
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.00
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.30
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Ice Cream$5.91
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Traditional Costa Rican cooking class and meal with a modern twist: $139
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Jaco $60
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 Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$9.81
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.81
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Tortuga Island Tour$98
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Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $35
- Cold Plunge Experience in Jaco: $35
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching tour/Tarcoles River CR: $40
- Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $45
- 10 WATERFALLS and NATURAL POOLS HIKING EXPERIENCE 4x4 TRUCK RIDE: $60
- Party Safari Tractor Tour with Visit the waterfall: $60
- Jaco Beach Horseback Riding Tour: $60
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $61
- Horseback Riding in Tarcoles Garabito, a Life Experience.: $62
- Birdwatching tour in Carara National Park: $65
- Mountain View Zip-line Tour: $67
- Jacó beach horseback riding experience : $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $7.20Jaco $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$15
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Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Jaco, we can see that Jaco 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 Jaco is in Central America, 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco 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 Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Jaco?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Jaco, 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 Jaco?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Jaco in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Jaco. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Jaco. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Jaco. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar is cooler than Jaco in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Jaco fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Jaco in the Autumn?
Both Jaco and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Jaco is November to May. June to October in Jaco is the hurricane season. It rains a lot this time of the year in Jaco. In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Jaco. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Jaco averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Jaco in the Winter?
Both Jaco 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Jaco. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Jaco. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as Jaco. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Jaco in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Jaco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to May in Jaco is the dry season. The hurricane season in Jaco is June to October. Zanzibar gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Jaco. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jaco this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Jaco during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Jaco in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Jaco fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Jaco | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.