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 $851 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $451 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,361 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $702 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $954 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 89% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 37% lower, Zanzibar 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,055

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

-43.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.65 TZS 50.7K

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

-12.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 TZS 20.2K

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

34.48%

Cappuccino

$2.03 TZS 5,235

$2.18 TZS 5,635

-6.88%

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

$0.35 TZS 907

$0.60 TZS 1,539

-41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 565

$0.31 TZS 792

-29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,679

$1.94 TZS 5,011

-46.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,066

$2.77 TZS 7,141

-29.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,745

$1.77 TZS 4,574

-40.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 1,991

$0.74 TZS 1,897

4.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,834

$0.87 TZS 2,236

26.44%

Eggs

$1.99 TZS 5,123

$2.87 TZS 7,396

-30.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 TZS 23.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 TZS 15.3K

$2.28 TZS 5,872

160.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 TZS 10.9K

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

-10.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,641

$2.92 TZS 7,541

-11.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,647

$1.13 TZS 2,908

-8.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,727

$0.75 TZS 1,943

41.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,698

$0.59 TZS 1,530

77.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,444

$0.93 TZS 2,386

2.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 TZS 4,038

$1.58 TZS 4,062

-0.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,183

$0.74 TZS 1,916

14.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,040

$0.46 TZS 1,184

-13.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,176

$2.11 TZS 5,442

-4.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.93 TZS 17.9K

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

-27.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,463

$1.75 TZS 4,520

-45.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,190

$1.31 TZS 3,387

23.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 613

$0.65 TZS 1,664

-63.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 TZS 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 TZS 3,778

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 TZS 4,039

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.67 TZS 35.2K

$2.76 TZS 7,125

395.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,205

$1.20 TZS 3,101

3.33%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

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

$97.8 TZS 252.1K

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

$10.72 TZS 27.6K

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

2.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 TZS 81.3K

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

38.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.0 TZS 242.5K

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

342.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.97 TZS 12.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 TZS 12.5K

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

-48.51%

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

$256 TZS 659.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K TZS 49.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 TZS 66.4K

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

94.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.84 TZS 107.9K

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

139.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.69 TZS 117.8K

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

199.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 TZS 216.1K

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

509.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 TZS 1.5M

$148 TZS 382.9K

287.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 TZS 677.7K

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

165.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 TZS 3.4M

$202 TZS 520.2K

552.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$150 TZS 386.0K

335.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 3.9M

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

-96.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 TZS 2.7M

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

-90.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 TZS 732.2K

$324 TZS 834.5K

-12.25%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Dar es Salaam versus $148 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 14% 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 $20.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Dar es Salaam vs $138 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 89%, 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 $1,276 per month in Dar es Salaam and $676 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 $20.00 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 $451, than in Dar es Salaam at $851. 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.