Cost of Living Comparison Between Bagamoyo and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Bagamoyo and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $391 in Bagamoyo versus $574 in Zanzibar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $655 in Bagamoyo versus $855 in Zanzibar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $920 in Bagamoyo versus $1,136 in Zanzibar.

Living in Bagamoyo costs roughly 32% less than in Zanzibar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bagamoyo 72% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.93 TZS 5,085

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

-58.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.28 TZS 29.7K

$21.63 TZS 56.9K

-47.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 TZS 23.0K

$5.63 TZS 14.8K

55.60%

Cappuccino

$1.96 TZS 5,143

$2.18 TZS 5,741

-10.09%

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

$0.32 TZS 853

$0.64 TZS 1,681

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 TZS 520

$0.31 TZS 802

-35.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 TZS 2,547

$1.92 TZS 5,053

-49.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 TZS 5,078

$2.58 TZS 6,771

-25.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 TZS 2,081

$2.14 TZS 5,615

-63.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 TZS 1,578

$0.70 TZS 1,852

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.36 TZS 953

$0.85 TZS 2,230

-57.65%

Eggs

$1.91 TZS 5,016

$2.74 TZS 7,197

-30.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 TZS 25.1K

$7.78 TZS 20.5K

22.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 TZS 12.0K

$2.24 TZS 5,901

104.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 TZS 10.4K

$6.13 TZS 16.1K

-35.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 TZS 6,823

$2.83 TZS 7,430

-8.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,456

$1.15 TZS 3,013

-19.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 TZS 2,539

$0.78 TZS 2,058

24.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 TZS 1,566

$0.59 TZS 1,553

1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 TZS 827

$0.90 TZS 2,376

-65.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 TZS 821

$1.48 TZS 3,897

-79.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 TZS 2,309

$0.74 TZS 1,951

18.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 TZS 925

$0.49 TZS 1,281

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 TZS 6,127

$2.18 TZS 5,734

6.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.68 TZS 17.6K

$9.53 TZS 25.0K

-29.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,342

$1.47 TZS 3,861

-39.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 TZS 3,962

$1.36 TZS 3,565

11.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.62 TZS 4,251

$3.73 TZS 9,812

-56.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 TZS 3,884

$0.74 TZS 1,949

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.37 TZS 35.1K

$2.57 TZS 6,764

420.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 TZS 3,472

$1.19 TZS 3,136

10.92%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.7K TZS 43.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K TZS 69.5M

$49.9K TZS 131.3M

-47.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$55.6 TZS 146.2K

$72.8 TZS 191.4K

-23.62%

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

$4.62 TZS 12.1K

$11.55 TZS 30.4K

-60.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.3K

$48.94 TZS 128.7K

-53.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 TZS 77.5K

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 TZS 13.6K

$9.43 TZS 24.8K

-45.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$576 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K TZS 35.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.15 TZS 37.2K

$12.94 TZS 34.0K

9.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.01 TZS 68.4K

$16.89 TZS 44.4K

54.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.03 TZS 115.8K

$15.29 TZS 40.2K

187.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.5 TZS 174.7K

$13.49 TZS 35.5K

392.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$57.2 TZS 150.4K

$147 TZS 387.6K

-61.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$228 TZS 600.1K

$199 TZS 523.4K

14.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 TZS 295.9K

$150 TZS 395.6K

-25.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.2K TZS 97.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.1K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 TZS 825.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

82.50%

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

Last update for Bagamoyo: September 7, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.2 in Bagamoyo and $147 in Zanzibar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Bagamoyo vs $22.00 in Zanzibar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $166 per month, with Bagamoyo cheaper across the board.

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

Bagamoyo vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bagamoyo wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Zanzibar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bagamoyo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $586 in Bagamoyo and $860 in Zanzibar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $57.2 in Bagamoyo versus $147 in Zanzibar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $391 per month in Bagamoyo versus $574 in Zanzibar – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Zanzibar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bagamoyo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bagamoyo and Zanzibar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bagamoyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.