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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $874 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $439 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,402 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $701 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,930 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $962 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 99% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,178

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

-42.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.19 TZS 50.3K

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

-13.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 TZS 20.0K

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

30.82%

Cappuccino

$1.94 TZS 5,101

$2.27 TZS 5,963

-14.54%

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

$0.36 TZS 938

$0.60 TZS 1,587

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 576

$0.34 TZS 880

-35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,716

$1.90 TZS 4,978

-45.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 TZS 4,966

$2.69 TZS 7,051

-29.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 TZS 2,819

$1.70 TZS 4,452

-37.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,178

$0.73 TZS 1,921

13.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,855

$0.87 TZS 2,292

25.29%

Eggs

$2.06 TZS 5,395

$2.87 TZS 7,534

-28.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 TZS 25.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

$2.36 TZS 6,194

143.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.36 TZS 11.5K

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

-8.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 TZS 6,728

$2.94 TZS 7,715

-12.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,667

$1.19 TZS 3,116

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,794

$0.80 TZS 2,101

32.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,858

$0.56 TZS 1,471

94.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 TZS 2,323

$0.94 TZS 2,475

-5.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 TZS 3,951

$1.50 TZS 3,946

0.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,387

$0.79 TZS 2,068

15.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,057

$0.50 TZS 1,311

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 TZS 5,190

$2.02 TZS 5,289

-1.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.98 TZS 18.3K

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

-27.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,488

$1.79 TZS 4,690

-46.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,243

$1.31 TZS 3,438

23.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 683

$0.63 TZS 1,666

-58.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.62 TZS 46.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 TZS 3,719

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 TZS 3,904

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.51 TZS 35.5K

$2.77 TZS 7,270

387.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,144

$1.16 TZS 3,036

3.45%

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

$16.8K TZS 44.1M

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

$17.3K TZS 45.3M

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

$97.0 TZS 254.6K

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

$10.92 TZS 28.7K

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

5.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.24 TZS 84.6K

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

40.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.1 TZS 249.5K

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

352.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

-51.91%

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

$258 TZS 676.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K TZS 49.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.38 TZS 69.2K

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

97.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.45 TZS 111.4K

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

139.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.02 TZS 123.4K

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

209.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 TZS 222.5K

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

517.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 TZS 1.6M

$149 TZS 390.6K

298.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 TZS 686.3K

$101 TZS 266.1K

157.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 TZS 3.4M

$202 TZS 529.6K

540.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$150 TZS 392.5K

336.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,504 TZS 3.9M

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

-95.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

-90.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 TZS 722.4K

$316 TZS 829.5K

-12.90%

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 Dar es Salaam: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $594 in Dar es Salaam versus $149 in Zanzibar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Zanzibar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Dar es Salaam vs $139 in Zanzibar – so Zanzibar 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

Dar es Salaam vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 99%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,311 per month in Dar es Salaam and $659 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Dar es Salaam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam and $22.00 in Zanzibar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zanzibar, where all-in costs run around $439, than in Dar es Salaam at $874. In Zanzibar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – 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 Zanzibar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dar es Salaam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.