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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $201 per month in Arusha vs $451 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $358 per month in Arusha vs $702 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $514 per month in Arusha vs $954 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Arusha is about 55% cheaper than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arusha and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Arusha 85% lower, Zanzibar 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 TZS 8,767

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

-30.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.94 TZS 72.1K

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

24.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 TZS 23.4K

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

55.92%

Cappuccino

$1.70 TZS 4,382

$2.18 TZS 5,635

-22.02%

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

$0.43 TZS 1,113

$0.60 TZS 1,539

-28.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 799

$0.31 TZS 792

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 TZS 2,790

$1.94 TZS 5,011

-44.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 TZS 7,677

$2.77 TZS 7,141

7.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 TZS 1,634

$1.77 TZS 4,574

-64.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 TZS 1,554

$0.74 TZS 1,897

-18.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,336

$0.87 TZS 2,236

4.60%

Eggs

$1.70 TZS 4,384

$2.87 TZS 7,396

-40.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,027

$0.59 TZS 1,530

33.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,048

$0.93 TZS 2,386

-55.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,571

$1.58 TZS 4,062

-36.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 TZS 1,212

$0.46 TZS 1,184

2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 497

$0.65 TZS 1,664

-70.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 TZS 4,992

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 TZS 19.3K

$2.76 TZS 7,125

171.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,184

$1.20 TZS 3,101

2.50%

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

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

-9.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 TZS 129.7K

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

121.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.97 TZS 10.2K

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

-57.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K TZS 26.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 TZS 759.3K

$202 TZS 520.2K

45.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Arusha: June 2, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $36.00 in Arusha vs $138 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: $201 in Arusha, $451 in Zanzibar – roughly 124% apart. Zanzibar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $302 per month in Arusha and $676 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 $201 in Arusha and $451 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 $201 in Arusha and $451 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.