A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zanzibar vs. Milan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zanzibar or Milan?

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 Milan 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 Milan?

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.

Milan

Milan, known to most of the world as the capital of fashion and style, is also the heart of Italian industry and economics. Between the stock exchange, cathedrals and boutiques, this metropolis is a city-lover's dream come true. It is an escape from the stresses of the real world, and provides a playground for all the world's most lavish luxuries.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Milan or Zanzibar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $66, while the average daily cost in Milan is $229. 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 Milan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zanzibar $26
    Milan $113
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zanzibar $52
    Milan $226
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Milan

Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Milan? 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.

Hotels in Zanzibar


Hotels in Milan


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 Milan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zanzibar $12
    Milan $41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:

  • Arrival Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Zanzibar by Luxury Car: $250
  • Private Return Transfer From Zanzibar Airport To Paje: $140
  • The Top Best Tour in Stone Town and Prison Island with Transfer: $130
  • Jet Ski to Zanzibar with photos and video and transfer included: $120
  • Private Transfer from Makunduchi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $99
  • Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Kizimkazi: $99
  • Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Makunduchi: $99
  • Zanzibar Ferry Terminal Departure Transfers.: $90
  • Private Transfer from Bwejuu to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $89
  • Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Jambiani: $89
  • Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Kendwa: $89
  • Private Transfer from Kiwengwa to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $89

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Milan

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Milan:


  • Train to Airport
    $8.21
  • Malpensa Airport Train (for Two)
    $26
  • Taxi From Airport
    $106
  • Public Transit Day Pass
    $5.28
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $8.36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Milan

Also for Milan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer: Malpensa Airport MXP to Milan by Luxury Van: $161
  • Airport Transfer: Milan to Linate Airport LIN by Luxury Car: $159
  • Airport Transfer: Milan to Malpensa Airport MXP by Luxury Van: $161
  • Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van LIN airport to Milan: $96
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Malpensa Airport MXP to Milan in Luxury Van: $161
  • Cervinia: Private Transfer to/from Malpensa Airport: $552
  • Champoluc: Private Transfer to/from Malpensa Airport: $529
  • From Linate airport : Private 1-Way Transfer to Bellagio: $400
  • From Linate airport : Private 1-Way Transfer to Milan: $111
  • From Milan : Private 1-Way Transfer to Malpensa airport: $222
  • From Private 1-Way Transfer to Linate airport: $93
  • Lake Como: Train Transfer to/from Milan with Scenic Views: $7.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Milan?

Prices for flights to both Milan 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Zanzibar $30
    Milan $79

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 Milan

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Milan:


  • Snack at Train Station
    $10
  • Restaurant Pizza
    $7.74
  • Casual Cafe Lunch (for Two)
    $32
  • Three Course Dinner (for Two)
    $75
  • Cappuccino
    $1.91

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milan

For Milan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $32
  • Milan Street Food Tour and City Sightseeing with Local Guide: $42
  • Delicious Food Tour and City Center Sightseeing: $46
  • International aperitif + cooking class in Italian: $48
  • Street Food Tour with Tastings and Local Guide: $49
  • Gourmet Street Food Tour with Sightseeing and Tasting: $49
  • only in ITALIAN - International aperitif + cooking class in Italian: $49
  • Tasty Milan Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $50
  • Pasta and Tiramisu Small Group Cooking Class with Wine: $66
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $66
  • Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Wine: $67
  • Food Tour with Wine Tasting in Milan: $68

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zanzibar $13
    Milan $36

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 Milan

For Milan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Stairs to Duomo Rooftop
    $8.21

Tours and Activities in Milan

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Milan.

  • Milan's Best-Kept Secrets: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $1.17
  • Self Guided Tours In Milan With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.57
  • The Empire and Art Tour of Milan with Self Guided Mobile App: $4.62
  • Milan Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.78
  • Milan Catch the Unicorn: Exploration Game and Tour: $5.96
  • Milan Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $5.96
  • Stories of the Fashion Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Milan: $6.99
  • Branca Tower Entrance Ticket: $7.00
  • Royal Self-Guided Story Puzzle Adventure: $7.16
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Milan: $7.16
  • Milano Walking Tour with Audio and Written Guide by a Local: $7.17
  • Duomo Milan Cathedral Walking Tour with Audioguide (no ticket): $8.35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zanzibar $7.20
    Milan $28

Typical Alcohol Prices in Milan

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Milan:


  • Cocktail at a Bar
    $9.85
  • Beer
    $3.93

Sample the Local Flavors in Milan

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Milan:

  • Milan Pub Crawl Party with Free Shots and Drink Deals by Riviera: $30
  • Guided Riviera Bar Crawl with Free Shots: $37
  • Wine Tasting Experience with Platter at Winelovers: $44
  • Wine Tasting Experience: $48
  • Wine Tasting Experience in the City Centre: $52
  • Wine Tasting Experience in Milan City Center: $54
  • Milan Wine Tasting Experience: $57
  • Italian Wine Tasting in Milan: $59
  • Wine Tasting Experience - Urban Cellar: $60
  • Fun Wine Tasting with an Italian Sommelier: $76
  • Private Food and Wine Tasting Experience in the Center of Milan: $96
  • Milan Oltrepo Pavese Vineyards Grape Stomping and Wine Tasting: $96


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Milan, we can see that Milan 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 Milan 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 Milan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milan 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 Milan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Milan?

Milan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Zanzibar. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Milan, 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 Milan?

Milan 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 Milan in the Summer?

Both Milan and Zanzibar during the summer 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 city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Milan this time of year.

Zanzibar is around the same temperature as Milan in the summer. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Milan fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Milan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Milan. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 250 hours of full sun.

Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Milan. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Milan receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Zanzibar 25°C (77°F) 
    Milan 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Milan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Milan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, many travelers come to Milan for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Zanzibar is much warmer than Milan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zanzibar in October average around 25°C (78°F), and Milan averages at about 15°C (58°F).

In Zanzibar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Milan during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Milan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Milan. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Milan receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Zanzibar 25°C (78°F) 
    Milan 15°C (58°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Milan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Milan. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Milan in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Milan can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Milan. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 28°C (82°F), and Milan fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Milan. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 119 hours of full sun.

Zanzibar usually gets more rain in January than Milan. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Milan receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Zanzibar 28°C (82°F) 
    Milan 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Zanzibar or Milan in the Spring?

Both Milan and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Milan for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

Zanzibar is much warmer than Milan in the spring. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Milan fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Milan during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Zanzibar. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Milan. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Milan receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Zanzibar 27°C (81°F) 
    Milan 13°C (55°F)

Typical Weather for Milan and Zanzibar

Zanzibar Milan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 5°C (41°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 52 mm (2 in) 6°C (44°F) 60 mm (2.3 in)
Mar 28°C (83°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 10°C (49°F) 85 mm (3.4 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 13°C (55°F) 76 mm (3 in)
May 26°C (78°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Jun 24°C (76°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 20°C (69°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Sep 25°C (76°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 19°C (67°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Oct 25°C (78°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 15°C (58°F) 103 mm (4 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 9°C (49°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 6°C (42°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)