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: $432 in Bagamoyo versus $451 in Zanzibar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $710 in Bagamoyo versus $702 in Zanzibar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Bagamoyo versus $954 in Zanzibar.

Living in Bagamoyo costs roughly 4% less than in Zanzibar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bagamoyo 68% lower, Zanzibar 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 TZS 5,061

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

-59.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.57 TZS 29.8K

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

-48.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 TZS 19.8K

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

31.73%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,028

$2.18 TZS 5,635

-10.55%

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

$0.36 TZS 932

$0.60 TZS 1,539

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 TZS 506

$0.31 TZS 792

-35.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,690

$1.94 TZS 5,011

-46.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 TZS 4,905

$2.77 TZS 7,141

-31.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 TZS 1,952

$1.77 TZS 4,574

-57.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 TZS 1,963

$0.74 TZS 1,897

2.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,055

$0.87 TZS 2,236

-52.87%

Eggs

$2.06 TZS 5,323

$2.87 TZS 7,396

-28.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 TZS 25.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 TZS 15.1K

$2.28 TZS 5,872

157.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 TZS 10.7K

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

-12.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 TZS 6,794

$2.92 TZS 7,541

-9.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,555

$1.13 TZS 2,908

-12.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,616

$0.75 TZS 1,943

34.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,437

$0.59 TZS 1,530

-5.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 TZS 828

$0.93 TZS 2,386

-65.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 TZS 837

$1.58 TZS 4,062

-79.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,194

$0.74 TZS 1,916

14.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,055

$0.46 TZS 1,184

-10.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 TZS 5,322

$2.11 TZS 5,442

-2.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 TZS 18.3K

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

-25.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 TZS 2,483

$1.75 TZS 4,520

-45.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 TZS 4,312

$1.31 TZS 3,387

27.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,803

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 TZS 2,887

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.69 TZS 35.3K

$2.76 TZS 7,125

396.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,203

$1.20 TZS 3,101

3.33%

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

$17.1K TZS 44.0M

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

$17.3K TZS 44.6M

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

$97.4 TZS 251.1K

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

$4.77 TZS 12.3K

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

-54.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.11 TZS 59.6K

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

1.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 TZS 12.5K

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

-48.41%

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

$252 TZS 650.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K TZS 50.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.98 TZS 67.0K

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

95.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.99 TZS 108.3K

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

140.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.51 TZS 119.9K

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

204.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.78 TZS 110.3K

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

210.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$57.9 TZS 149.3K

$148 TZS 382.9K

-61.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$231 TZS 596.8K

$202 TZS 520.2K

14.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 TZS 298.1K

$150 TZS 386.0K

-22.76%

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 %)

19.67

96.70%

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

Last update for Bagamoyo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.9 in Bagamoyo and $148 in Zanzibar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Bagamoyo vs $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries flip the comparison at $154 vs $138, 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

Bagamoyo wins on cost – living expenses run 4% 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 $648 in Bagamoyo and $676 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: $57.9 in Bagamoyo versus $148 in Zanzibar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $432 per month in Bagamoyo versus $451 in Zanzibar – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Zanzibar pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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 4% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.