Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar

😐 Solo nomad: Dar es Salaam is 76.6% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 96% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Dar es Salaam is 26.6% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 98.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 TZS 6,987
$4.86 TZS 12.3K
-43.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.68 TZS 49.9K
$21.91 TZS 55.5K
-10.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.83 TZS 19.8K
$5.67 TZS 14.4K
38.10%
Cappuccino
$1.95 TZS 4,946
$2.17 TZS 5,495
-10.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 TZS 973
$0.64 TZS 1,609
-40.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 TZS 555
$0.31 TZS 784
-29.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 TZS 2,718
$1.92 TZS 4,852
-44.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 TZS 4,980
$2.68 TZS 6,793
-26.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 TZS 2,711
$1.78 TZS 4,499
-39.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 TZS 1,945
$0.73 TZS 1,848
5.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 TZS 2,733
$0.82 TZS 2,075
31.71%
Eggs
$1.98 TZS 5,009
$2.98 TZS 7,539
-33.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.50 TZS 24.1K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 TZS 14.9K
$2.26 TZS 5,729
160.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.24 TZS 10.7K
$4.63 TZS 11.7K
-8.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.56 TZS 6,492
$2.88 TZS 7,301
-11.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 TZS 2,672
$1.18 TZS 2,999
-11.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 TZS 2,686
$0.74 TZS 1,868
43.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 TZS 2,606
$0.56 TZS 1,415
83.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 TZS 2,398
$0.93 TZS 2,364
2.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 TZS 3,817
$1.52 TZS 3,851
-0.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 TZS 2,097
$0.80 TZS 2,036
3.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 TZS 1,103
$0.49 TZS 1,254
-10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01 TZS 5,100
$2.09 TZS 5,296
-3.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.58 TZS 16.7K
$9.88 TZS 25.0K
-33.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 TZS 2,455
$1.73 TZS 4,372
-43.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 TZS 4,235
$1.39 TZS 3,509
20.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 TZS 660
$0.60 TZS 1,530
-56.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.32 TZS 43.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 TZS 3,591
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 TZS 3,780
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.59 TZS 34.4K
$2.64 TZS 6,679
414.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 TZS 3,150
$1.22 TZS 3,096
1.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.0K TZS 43.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K TZS 43.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.4 TZS 246.6K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.63 TZS 26.9K
$10.32 TZS 26.2K
3.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.10 TZS 81.3K
$23.32 TZS 59.1K
37.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$93.4 TZS 236.7K
$21.42 TZS 54.3K
336.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.92 TZS 12.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.71 TZS 11.9K
$9.70 TZS 24.6K
-51.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$258 TZS 653.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.0K TZS 48.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.27 TZS 66.5K
$13.14 TZS 33.3K
99.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.35 TZS 107.3K
$17.21 TZS 43.6K
146.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.48 TZS 115.2K
$15.24 TZS 38.6K
198.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 TZS 213.5K
$13.56 TZS 34.3K
521.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 TZS 1.5M
$149 TZS 377.4K
287.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$261 TZS 662.4K
$101 TZS 254.6K
160.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,326 TZS 3.4M
$200 TZS 505.6K
564.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$662 TZS 1.7M
$147 TZS 371.6K
351.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,521 TZS 3.9M
$38.8K TZS 98.3M
-96.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,081 TZS 2.7M
$11.7K TZS 29.6M
-90.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$268 TZS 679.9K
$329 TZS 834.3K
-18.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.67
10
96.70%

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: February 28, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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