04 Apr2024
Is Zanzibar expensive? What’s the budget you need when visiting the Zanzibar island? Keep reading to find out about Zanzibar travel cost 2024 and how much I personally spent there in almost 7 weeks in early 2024.
If you were following my social media, then you know I spent 6 and a half weeks in Zanzibar in February and March 2024. And just another almost 4 days in Dar Es Salaam, a city in Tanzania mainland, because my flights were from there.
Altogether that was 7 weeks in Tanzania. And yes, it was my first visit there.
The local currency in Tanzania is Tanzanian shilling = tzs.
Before I state the prices, it’s important to say that sometimes it’s better to pay in local currency, sometimes in euros, and other times in US dollars. It all depends on the exchange rate you get at the hotel, restaurant or shop.
I would always check first and then decide what the best option was.
I exchanged money at 3 different occassions while on Zanzibar and in Dar Es Salaam and these were the exchange rates I got:
- 1 euro = 3,000 tzs (KADOO exchange in Dar Es Salaam the day before I made my way to Zanzibar)
- 1 euro = 2,890 tzs (Posta in Stone Town, Zanzibar)
- 1$ = 2,800 tzs (at ZanFast ferry office both in Dar Es Salaam and Stone Town – that was the exchange rate they gave me to give me back my change after paying for the ferry ticket in $, and it was way better than at any exchange office I visited).
In this article I mention the prices in euros based on the current exchange rate I had when I paid.
Generally speaking, Zanzibar is more expensive than the mainland Tanzania (except safari trips).
Bwejuu beach
Details of Zanzibar travel cost
Visa to Zanzibar
A 3-month visa to Tanzania and Zanzibar cost 48.59 eur. It was $50 online or the same price in person at arrival. I asked for it online before my trip.
Transport to Zanzibar
To get to Zanzibar, I had to travel across Slovakia to the Vienna airport and from there flights to Dar Es Salaam and then a ferry to Zanzibar. Yes, there are flights also to Zanzibar but they were a lot more expensive on the dates I needed so I decided to do it this way. It turned out to be a good idea as then I bought a local SIM card and exchanged money in Dar Es Salaam a way better than I would have in Zanzibar (cheaper SIM and better exchage rate).
A day train trip from my home town Snina to Bratislava (both in Slovakia) cost 12.90 eur.
A SlovakLines bus from Bratislava to Vienna airport = for free as part of the collaboration I have with them.
Return flights from Vienna via Amsterdam to Dar Es Salaam and back the same way cost 585.88 eur.
ZanFast ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar cost $35 or 98,000 tzs so it made more sense to pay in $ (it turned out to be cheaper in $ = 33.98 eur).
Bear in mind that the ferry is 3 times more expensive for non-residents/tourists than for locals.
on the way to Zanzibar
Zanzibar transportation cost 2024
Since a scooter accident I had in the past, I am still scared to drive.
And I truly love walking so I tend to walk even 10 to 20 km per day if I feel like it.
At the same time I am not really a taxi person when traveling alone so whenever possible, I try to choose more eco-friendly options. In Zanzibar that meant using local transportation a lot. It’s not very comfortable to be honest, and there’s no time schedules and often you need to stand and sweat like crazy squeezed in with other people but it was very cheap.
The names of local transportation you will need to use when on Zanzibar are:
Boda boda, or bodaboda is a motorbike taxi.
Daladala, or dala dala is a bus/minivan.
Bajaji is a tuk tuk/rikshaw.
Moto taxi from Stone Town old town to Kwerekwe daladala station cost 6,000 tzs = 2 eur (at first he wanted 8,000 tzs but then we agreed on 6,000 tzs). And yes, he took me on the motorbike with my suitcase and backpack without any problems.
A car/taxi shared with locals from Kwerekwe daladala station directly to my hotel in Michamvi which is approx. 60 km cost 2,500 tzs = 0.84 eur (at first, he wanted 5,000 tzs saying it was for me and my baggage but I knew we are not supposed to pay extra money for bags so I told him I’d pay just 2,500 tzs like locals pay and it was fine then).
A motorbike from Michamvi to Bwejuu with my luggage cost 6,000 tzs = 2 eur.
A taxi shared with another 3 people from Bwejuu and picking up other girls in Paje to Stone Town cost me 12,000 tzs = 4 eur. There’s a whatsapp group for shared taxi in Zanzibar so send me a message/email to add you to the group.
Bajaji from 1 hotel in Nungwi to another hotel in Kendwa cost 8,000 tzs (= 2.77 eur). Initially he wanted 15,000 tzs but then we made a deal for 10,000 tzs but he came to pick me up almost 25 minutes late so in the end I gave him just 8,000 tzs for not keeping his word as agreed. He knew about the pick up time a day ahead!
Other local transportation around Zanzibar, mostly buses and minivans cost 25,000 tzs = 8.34 eur.
And I also got free transportation from Stone Town to Nungwi as part of the collaboration with Zanpalme tours and also the same back from Kendwa to Stone Town which saved me 60 euros altogether.
Transport from Zanzibar
ZanFast ferry from Stone Town to Dar Es Salaam cost $35 = 33.98 eur.
A SlovakLines bus from Vienna airport to Bratislava = for free as part of our collaboration.
The night train from Bratislava to Snina cost 28.51 eur.
I paid 715.20 eur for all transportation from Slovakia to Zanzibar, all around Zanzibar, and then back from Zanzibar to Slovakia.
on a local bus daladala Zanzibar
Zanzibar hotels cost
During my 6.5 week stay in Zanzibar I stayed at 6 different hotels in the following locations:
Michamvi, just outside of Bwejuu, Stone Town, Nungwi, Kendwa, Stone Town again.
I was there alone and tried to choose eco-friendly hotels whenever possible.
Second part of my stay was the beginning of rainy season so most hotels were cheaper than during the main hot season. And when I book via Booking, I have a Genius 3 discount there (the biggest possible discount they offer) so those who don’t have it, would pay more than I did.
Hotels in Zanzibar where I stayed at
In Michamvi from 10.2. to 22.2.2024: accommodation at Botanica Eco Lodge cost 330,52 eur by card (no extra fee as it was charged via Booking before my stay). The hotel bungalows are located between Michamvi Kae and Michamvi Pingwe and my stay was with simple breakfast included (I only asked for fresh fruit).
Then I got 4 nights at the same hotel Botanica with breakfast and water in exchange for mentioning them online = those 4 nights were for free for me. Check more from Botanica Eco Lodge here.
HOOM Bwejuu Zanzibar
Michamwi bungalows
In the end of my stay I wanted to finally feel like on holidays so I opted for more expensive accommodation hoping it would be worth it. TBH, not sure it met my expectations though…
Zanzibar travel cost 2024 – RIU Jambo Zanzibar room
I paid 1845.126 eur for all my accommodation in Zanzibar for 44 nights.
That makes it 41.935 eur per night.
I repeat, some days were with breakfast included, some without and 3 days were all inclusive.
Zanzibar food and drinks cost
Unfortunately, the tap water in Zanzibar is not potable and you have to buy it. Always when possible I would buy a 15l to 20l water containers and some of my hotels had water included in my stay.
I don’t drink alcohol nor soft drinks, not even sparkling water. All I ever drink is still water, coconuts, sugar cane juice, freshly made juices or smoothies without added sugar.
What I spent on water:
- 18.9 l water with a water pump cost 15,000 tzs at a hotel = 5 eur
- 1.5 l water cost 1,500 tzs in Stone town old town = 0.52 eur
- 1.5 l water cost 1,000 tzs outside of Stone town old town = 0.34 eur
- 1.5 l water cost 1,200 tzs at a local supermarket in Pingwe = 0.40 eur
- 15 l water cost 4,500 tzs at a local store = 1.50 eur.
Food, young coconuts and fresh sugar cane juice cost 933,000 tzs = 312.50 eur.
Food at Paje supermarket cost 17.10 eur by card (there was a 5% extra charge but I forgot to bring more cash).
I paid 337.36 eur for the food and drinks on Zanzibar. Well, that’s without the 3 days of all inclusive stay and some breakfast and water that I had included in my accommodation or on tours.
Zanzibar travel cost 2024 papaya
Zanzibar travel cost 2024 breakfast and plastic boxes to store fruit
If you’d like to get an idea about local prices of meals and drinks, check below. And remember that whenever I got a chance, I bargained the prices.
Prices of drinks and food on Zanzibar
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1 pineapple 4,000 tzs = 1.34 eur
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1 stack of bananas 4,000 tzs = 1.34 eur
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rice with choroko lentils in coconut sauce 12,000 tzs = 4 eur
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veggie curry with rice 10,000 tzs = 3.34 eur
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hummus bowl at a restaurant for 10,000 tzs = 3.34 eur
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5 small tomatoes 1,000 tzs = 0.34 eur
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3 mangoes with delivery 5,000 tzs = 1.67 eur
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1 young coconut at the street 1,500 tzs = 0.50 eur
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1 bigger young coconut at the street 2,000 tzs = 0.692 eur
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1 young coconut at restaurants 3,000 to 5,000 tzs
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1 papaya 1,000 to 3,000 tzs
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1 watermelon 2,500 to 5,000 tzs
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1 vegan chocolate muffin 6,000 tzs = 2 eur
- 1 gluten-free vegan chocolate muffin 7,000 tzs = 2.34 eur
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1 vegan banana cake 8,000 tzs = 2.67 eur
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1 vegan avocado brownie 4,000 tzs = 1.34 eur
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1 vegan burger with chips 15,000 tzs = 5 eur
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4 small summer rolls 7,000 tzs = 2.34 eur
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falafel with fatoush salad 7,000 tzs = 2.34 eur
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hummus with jackfruit balls 15,000 tzs = 5 eur
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0.4 l fresh sugar cane juice 2,000 tzs = 0.67 eur (then I negotiated the price with the street vendors and then would always pay just 1,000 tzs for 0.5l of sugar cane)
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1 scoop of ice cream 4,000 tzs = 1.34 eur
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hummus, falafel, veggies and chips 15,000 tzs = 5 eur
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a local dish with veggie rice and 3 small vegan sauces/curry and rice pancake at Lukmaan restaurant in Stone Town 21,000 tzs = 7.267 eur
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a local dish with rice and 3 small vegan curry at Lukmaan 16,000 tzs = 5.536 eur
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falafel, samosa, sweet potato at Stone Town night food market 18,000 tzs = 6.23 eur
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small cocoa powder pack at spice farm 5,000 tzs = 1.73 eur
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3 scoops of ice cream 11,000 tzs = 3.81 eur.
Other expenses in Zanzibar
Airtel SIM card I bought already in Dar Es Salaam city center cost 2.000 tzs + 50.000 tzs for 24GB mobile data for 60 days so altogether for the new SIM with data it was 17.34 eur. I’ve heard that in Zanzibar SIM cards cost a lot more and sometimes they try to overcharge tourists. This can happen not only at the Zanzibar airport but also at local shops so be aware of that.
1-hour full body massage with coconut oil at a small local beach hut cost 22,000 tzs = 7.34 eur.
19-minute back massage cost 10,000 tzs = 3.34 eur (at first she wanted 25,000 tzs or $50 for an hour full body massage).
Local guys did a cool acro performance on the beach so I gave them 3,000 tzs = 1 eur.
Unnecesarry expenses in Zanzibar
I also bought some souvenirs, clothes for me, magnets for other people, gifts etc. I did not have to buy any of the following things. The original prices were usually a lot higher but I managed to bargain as seen below.
Shopping prices:
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a small personal bag for 15,000 tzs = 5 eur
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2 plastic boxes to store fruit to avoid ants getting inside cost 10,000 tzs = 3.34 eur
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2 bracelets for 12,000 tzs altogether = 4.153 eur
- a local soap with herbs/fruit/plants + small ylang ylang essential oil 10,000 tzs at spice farm = 3.46 eur
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1 locally-made soap with herbs/fruit/plants at a store in Stone Town 2,000 tzs = 0.692 eur
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1 locally-made soap with herbs/fruit/plants 5,000 tzs at spice farm = 1.73 eur
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2 pair of pants 40,000 tzs = 13.84 eur for 2
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a long dress with long sleeves 40,000 tzs = 13.84 eur
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a wooden mask to hang on the wall 35,000 tzs = 12.111 eur (a late birthday gift for my dad to add to his collection)
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a T-shirt with giraffe print 30,000 tzs = 10.381 eur
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a T-shirt with pants with butterfly print 60,000 tzs = 20.762 eur
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a long dress with long sleeves 40,000 tzs = 13.84 eur
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$17 for a big travel bag = 16.50 eur
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a long dress with short sleeves 30,000 tzs = 10.38 eur
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a tank top 7,000 tzs = 2.43 eur (initially he wanted 20,000 tzs)
- a dress without sleeves 20,000 tzs = 6.92 eur
- a different dress without sleeves 25,000 tzs = 8.65 eur
I paid 398.294 eur for everything else on Zanzibar (clothes, gifts, souvenirs, magnets, local SIM card with data, cosmetics, bags etc.).
Zanzibar travel cost 2024 shopping
Extra Zanzibar travel cost
As you can see, I did not really do many day trips in Zanzibar with travel agencies/tour guides.
However, I did have some tours around Zanzibar with my local friends and tour guides from Zanpalme Tours (Michael, Marvin, Ali and the driver Edi) and as they were part of our collaboration, I did not pay for them. We did the following tours:
*Stown Town walking tour
*Prison Island tour = a boat trip from Stone Town to Prison island, entrance fee, a tour with explanation there, visited also the Tortoise sanctuary there, a boat trip back to Stone Town.
*Spice farm tour = we visited the Hakuna Matata spice farm in Dole, with the explanation of the plants, spices and fruit they grow there. And also fruit tasting and a great lunch with different meals. I had a Czech speaking local guide at the spice farm, it was so much fun!
*Baraka aquarium with turtles
*Nungwi sunset cruise
*they drove me from Stone Town to Nungwi and a few days after from Kendwa back to Stone Town.
All the above mentioned private tours and transportation would cost 220 eur altogether (per 1 person if it would be just 1 person like me. They offer discounts if it’s group of more people, of course).
Zanzibar travel cost 2024 – Nungwi sunset cruise
Spice farm in Dole Zanzibar – with Tomas and Michael
What’s the Zanzibar travel cost?
Let’s count my Zanzibar travel cost:
I spent 3,295.98 eur for the entire 45 days in Zanzibar. That’s the cost for absolutely everything (with all the shopping I did not need to do, too). And I ate each time I felt like it, I dined out at restaurants many afternoons, I drank more than 40 young coconuts etc. And I also bought everything I liked that would squeeze in my baggage.
So all the main things, such as transportation, visa, accommodation, food and drinks cost me 2,897.686 eur (without shopping, souvenirs, gifts).
Yes, now I realize I could have done it cheaper…. but also many times more expensive.
a local papaya
TIP: I will also write a similar article but a lot shorter about travel cost in Dar Es Salaam in a separate post. Come back soon to read it.
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