Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna?
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 La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna?
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.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $66La Fortuna $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $66, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $123. 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 La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $26La Fortuna $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $52La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or La Fortuna? 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 La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $12La Fortuna $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Prison Island Half Day Journey With Transfers - Zanzibar: $14
- Prison Island Excursion Half-Day Tour with Transfer - Zanzibar: $15
- Prison Island Experience Half Day Trip With Transfer - Zanzibar: $15
- Prison Island Adventure Half Day Tour With Transfer - Zanzibar: $15
- Zanzibar Arrival Transfer: Zanzibar Airport to Hotel: $17
- Prison Island Experience Half Day Tour With Transfer - Zanzibar: $18
- Zanzibar Airport/Hotels transfer best price: $19
- Premium Private Transfer in Zanzibar – Airport, Hotels, Beaches: $20
- Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Arrivals: $20
- Guided Tour of Stone Town's Historic Sites + Transfer – Zanzibar: $20
- Zanzibar Airport Transfers to Hotels : $20
- Stone Town Historical Walking Tour with Transfers – Zanzibar: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $210
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Guided Tour to Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges with Transfer: $79
- La Fortuna Arenal Volcano Hotels to SJO Airport Private Transfer: $185
- One-Way Transfer from La Fortuna to Monteverde through Arenal Lake: $57
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Monteverde From 1 to 6 passengers: $271
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To La Fortuna: $40
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Arenal La Fortuna: $42
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna: $285
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $110
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Arenal San Carlos: $41
- Private Transfer: La Fortuna Costa Rica: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna 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 $30La Fortuna $47
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 La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Sloth Tour in La Fortuna and Tortillas Cooking Class: $35
- 2 Hours Private Cooking Class in La Fortuna: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $54
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience : $55
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $71
- Cooking and Salsa Dance Lesson Combo : $74
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
- Cooking with a Costa Rican family: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13La Fortuna $44
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Zanzibar Organic Spice Farm Tour: $13
- Zanzibar : Stone Town Tour,history without transport: $14
- Spice Tour Zanzibar : $15
- Zanzibar stonetown walking tour with local guide: $18
- Stone Town tour: $20
- Zanzibar stone town city tour: $20
- Zanzibar Green Tour Park Experience: $20
- Stone Town Historical & Cultural Walking Adventure – Zanzibar: $20
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $20
- City tours zanzibar : $20
- Guided Stone Town Tour In Zanzibar: $24
- Stone Town Tour, Historical & Cultural Landmarks in - Zanzibar: $24
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Petting Zoo Interactive Farm Experience: $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Arenal Park Self-Guided Experience: $24
- Café Experience in Bijagua : $25
- Guaranteed Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Guaranteed Red eyed Tree Frog & Amphibians Tour: $30
- Sloth and Monkey Wild Life Tour : $30
- Tarzan Swing Adventure: $32
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $32
- Night tour through the Tropical Forest at Tifakara : $34
- Sloth Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $7.20La Fortuna $11
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience : $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or La Fortuna?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and La Fortuna, 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 La Fortuna?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Zanzibar or La Fortuna in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during summer. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zanzibar is generally cooler than La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZanzibar 25°C (77°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as La Fortuna. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Also, December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna. It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in October than La Fortuna. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 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 autumn, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZanzibar 25°C (78°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or La Fortuna in the Winter?
Both La Fortuna and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during winter. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Zanzibar is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZanzibar 28°C (82°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or La Fortuna in the Spring?
Both La Fortuna 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
December to April is the dry season in La Fortuna. Also, May to November in La Fortuna is the hurricane season. It rains a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually gets more rain in April than La Fortuna. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In La Fortuna, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than La Fortuna. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Zanzibar is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZanzibar 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.