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: $441 in Bagamoyo versus $439 in Zanzibar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $706 in Bagamoyo versus $701 in Zanzibar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $971 in Bagamoyo versus $962 in Zanzibar.

Monthly costs are close between Bagamoyo and Zanzibar; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bagamoyo 67% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 TZS 5,185

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

-58.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.46 TZS 30.1K

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

-48.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 TZS 20.8K

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

35.96%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,111

$2.27 TZS 5,963

-14.10%

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

$0.37 TZS 960

$0.60 TZS 1,587

-38.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 TZS 561

$0.34 TZS 880

-38.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,730

$1.90 TZS 4,978

-45.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,136

$2.69 TZS 7,051

-27.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 TZS 1,959

$1.70 TZS 4,452

-55.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,132

$0.73 TZS 1,921

10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.38 TZS 990

$0.87 TZS 2,292

-56.32%

Eggs

$2.01 TZS 5,280

$2.87 TZS 7,534

-29.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 TZS 24.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 TZS 15.5K

$2.36 TZS 6,194

150.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 TZS 11.5K

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

-7.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 TZS 6,970

$2.94 TZS 7,715

-9.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,489

$1.19 TZS 3,116

-20.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,760

$0.80 TZS 2,101

31.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 TZS 1,487

$0.56 TZS 1,471

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 TZS 778

$0.94 TZS 2,475

-68.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 TZS 783

$1.50 TZS 3,946

-80.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 TZS 2,317

$0.79 TZS 2,068

11.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,063

$0.50 TZS 1,311

-18.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 TZS 5,249

$2.02 TZS 5,289

-0.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

-29.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,342

$1.79 TZS 4,690

-50.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,253

$1.31 TZS 3,438

23.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 TZS 3,741

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 TZS 3,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.79 TZS 36.2K

$2.77 TZS 7,270

397.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 TZS 3,200

$1.16 TZS 3,036

5.17%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.7M

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

$17.4K TZS 45.8M

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

$97.7 TZS 256.3K

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

$4.87 TZS 12.8K

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

-52.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.94 TZS 60.2K

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

0.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 TZS 12.8K

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

-49.64%

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

$257 TZS 674.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K TZS 49.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.92 TZS 68.0K

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

93.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.36 TZS 113.8K

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

145.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.25 TZS 124.0K

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

211.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.90 TZS 112.6K

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

212.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$58.2 TZS 152.7K

$149 TZS 390.6K

-60.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 TZS 603.9K

$202 TZS 529.6K

14.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 306.0K

$150 TZS 392.5K

-22.02%

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 %)

19.67

96.70%

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

Last update for Bagamoyo: July 14, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $58.2 in Bagamoyo and $149 in Zanzibar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Bagamoyo vs $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries flip the comparison at $153 vs $139, with Zanzibar cheaper for home cooking.

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

You'd need roughly $662 in Bagamoyo and $659 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: $58.2 in Bagamoyo versus $149 in Zanzibar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zanzibar – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $11.00 in Bagamoyo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Bagamoyo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zanzibar 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.

It comes down to priorities – Zanzibar wins on affordability, Bagamoyo on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.