How much does a day in Zanzibar cost?

About $51 on a lean budget, $141 mid-range and $383 in comfort, per person per day as of November 12, 2026, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates: the national figure for Tanzania, updated daily, scaled by a city premium.

Is Zanzibar expensive compared with the rest of Tanzania?

Zanzibar costs about 20% more than the national average for Tanzania, which is $117 a day mid-range. Beach prices in dollars, far above mainland Tanzania.

Is Zanzibar cheaper to visit than last year?

The exchange rate moved +8.1% for US-dollar holders over twelve months while prices in Tanzania rose +3.9%, a real change of +7.7%. City prices broadly follow the country.

When is the best time to visit Zanzibar for lower prices?

For Tanzania the shoulder months, with workable weather and lower prices, are November, December. Peak season is June, July, August, September, October, January, February.

The US State Department rates Tanzania at Level 2: Increased caution. Country-wide levels can hide large differences between cities and regions, so read the full advisory.

Zanzibar

Beach prices in dollars, far above mainland Tanzania.

A day in Zanzibar

$141

Lean: $51
Comfort: $383

Real change, 12 months

+7.7%

Cheaper. Tracks Tanzania as a whole.

Against the rest of Tanzania

+20%

Pricier than the national figure of $117 a day.

The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026

As of November 12, 2026, a mid-range day in Zanzibar costs about $141 per person, excluding flights: about 20% more than the average for Tanzania. For US-dollar travelers it is 7.7% cheaper than a year ago after inflation, in line with Tanzania as a whole. Beach prices in dollars, far above mainland Tanzania.

What your money buys in Tanzania

Exchange rates and inflation are national, so the city follows this line. The dashed line is the exchange rate alone; the solid line is after inflation.

Nov 12, 2026After inflation 101.6Exchange rate only 102.6

Index, start of window = 100. Above 100 your money buys more in Tanzania than it did then; below, less. Hover or drag for any month.

Zanzibar, in five questions

City costs are the national model scaled by a premium of +20% that we set by hand. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”

How much does a day in Zanzibar cost?: About $51 on a lean budget, $141 mid-range and $383 in comfort, per person per day as of November 12, 2026, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates: the national figure for Tanzania, updated daily, scaled by a city premium.
Is Zanzibar expensive compared with the rest of Tanzania?: Zanzibar costs about 20% more than the national average for Tanzania, which is $117 a day mid-range. Beach prices in dollars, far above mainland Tanzania.
Is Zanzibar cheaper to visit than last year?: The exchange rate moved +8.1% for US-dollar holders over twelve months while prices in Tanzania rose +3.9%, a real change of +7.7%. City prices broadly follow the country.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar for lower prices?: For Tanzania the shoulder months, with workable weather and lower prices, are November, December. Peak season is June, July, August, September, October, January, February.
Is Zanzibar safe?: The US State Department rates Tanzania at Level 2: Increased caution. Country-wide levels can hide large differences between cities and regions, so read the full advisory.

Other cities

The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026