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 $720 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $581 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $872 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,553 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,163 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 24% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 48% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 TZS 5,103

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

-58.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.12 TZS 50.3K

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

-12.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.32 TZS 21.9K

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

51.27%

Cappuccino

$1.90 TZS 4,985

$2.13 TZS 5,598

-10.80%

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

$0.34 TZS 905

$0.63 TZS 1,649

-46.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 578

$0.31 TZS 805

-29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 TZS 2,548

$1.93 TZS 5,067

-49.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 TZS 4,883

$2.58 TZS 6,772

-27.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 TZS 2,122

$2.07 TZS 5,438

-60.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TZS 1,492

$0.75 TZS 1,978

-24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,766

$0.86 TZS 2,251

22.09%

Eggs

$1.93 TZS 5,063

$2.68 TZS 7,052

-27.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

26.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 TZS 12.1K

$2.26 TZS 5,939

103.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

-36.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 TZS 6,537

$2.92 TZS 7,665

-14.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,763

$1.11 TZS 2,919

-5.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,608

$0.74 TZS 1,951

33.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,718

$0.58 TZS 1,528

77.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,414

$0.98 TZS 2,565

-6.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,800

$1.55 TZS 4,079

-30.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 TZS 2,283

$0.74 TZS 1,946

17.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 TZS 1,012

$0.48 TZS 1,269

-20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,057

$2.17 TZS 5,697

5.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

-29.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 TZS 2,153

$1.55 TZS 4,062

-47.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 TZS 4,003

$1.36 TZS 3,567

11.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 630

$0.29 TZS 759

-17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.92 TZS 39.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 TZS 4,234

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

-57.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,075

$0.74 TZS 1,951

109.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$2.62 TZS 6,884

401.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 TZS 3,467

$1.16 TZS 3,039

13.79%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.8M

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

$26.0K TZS 68.4M

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

-47.10%

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

$55.7 TZS 146.5K

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

-24.44%

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

$8.90 TZS 23.4K

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

-22.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.85 TZS 91.6K

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

-28.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.3 TZS 211.1K

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

170.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 TZS 22.2K

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 TZS 13.4K

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

-47.00%

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

$564 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K TZS 35.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.28 TZS 37.5K

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

8.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.97 TZS 68.3K

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

55.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.83 TZS 115.2K

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

184.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 TZS 173.8K

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

409.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 TZS 1.5M

$150 TZS 393.4K

291.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 TZS 529.7K

$101 TZS 264.6K

100.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

$203 TZS 534.6K

575.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 TZS 1.1M

$149 TZS 392.4K

187.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 4.0M

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

-95.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,059 TZS 2.8M

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

-90.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 TZS 727.3K

$312 TZS 820.9K

-11.40%

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 Dar es Salaam: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $585 in Dar es Salaam versus $150 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 13% 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. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $166 – making Dar es Salaam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 24%, 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 $1,079 per month in Dar es Salaam and $871 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Dar es Salaam – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

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 $581, than in Dar es Salaam at $720. 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.