Cost of Living Comparison Between Arusha and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Arusha and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $200 per month in Arusha vs $439 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $357 per month in Arusha vs $701 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $514 per month in Arusha vs $962 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Arusha is about 54% cheaper than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arusha and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Arusha 85% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 TZS 8,877

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

-29.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.02 TZS 73.5K

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

25.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 TZS 24.0K

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

56.85%

Cappuccino

$1.74 TZS 4,574

$2.27 TZS 5,963

-23.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 TZS 1,127

$0.60 TZS 1,587

-28.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 878

$0.34 TZS 880

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 TZS 2,832

$1.90 TZS 4,978

-43.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 TZS 7,424

$2.69 TZS 7,051

5.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 TZS 1,691

$1.70 TZS 4,452

-62.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TZS 1,492

$0.73 TZS 1,921

-21.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 TZS 2,325

$0.87 TZS 2,292

2.30%

Eggs

$1.72 TZS 4,500

$2.87 TZS 7,534

-40.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$0.56 TZS 1,471

33.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,066

$0.94 TZS 2,475

-56.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,572

$1.50 TZS 3,946

-34.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,217

$0.50 TZS 1,311

-8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 506

$0.63 TZS 1,666

-69.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 TZS 5,061

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 TZS 20.5K

$2.77 TZS 7,270

181.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,125

$1.16 TZS 3,036

2.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.46 TZS 24.8K

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

-8.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 TZS 133.1K

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

121.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 TZS 9,879

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

-61.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K TZS 26.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 TZS 757.2K

$202 TZS 529.6K

42.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$316 TZS 829.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arusha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $35.00 in Arusha vs $139 in Zanzibar – so Arusha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arusha vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $200 in Arusha, $439 in Zanzibar – roughly 120% apart. Zanzibar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $300 per month in Arusha and $659 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha and $22.00 in Zanzibar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $200 in Arusha and $439 in Zanzibar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $200 in Arusha and $439 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Arusha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Arusha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zanzibar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.