Cost of Living Comparison Between Morogoro and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Morogoro and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $380 per month in Morogoro vs $574 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $640 per month in Morogoro vs $855 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $900 per month in Morogoro vs $1,136 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Morogoro is about 34% cheaper than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Morogoro and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Morogoro 72% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.90 TZS 5,001
$4.67 TZS 12.3K
-59.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.57 TZS 48.8K
$21.63 TZS 56.9K
-14.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.45 TZS 22.2K
$5.63 TZS 14.8K
50.09%
Cappuccino
$1.96 TZS 5,163
$2.18 TZS 5,741
-10.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 TZS 989
$0.64 TZS 1,681
-40.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 TZS 579
$0.31 TZS 802
-29.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 TZS 2,587
$1.92 TZS 5,053
-48.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 TZS 5,081
$2.58 TZS 6,771
-25.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 TZS 1,883
$2.14 TZS 5,615
-66.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 TZS 967
$0.70 TZS 1,852
-47.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 TZS 2,596
$0.85 TZS 2,230
16.47%
Eggs
$1.87 TZS 4,916
$2.74 TZS 7,197
-31.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 TZS 24.4K
$7.78 TZS 20.5K
19.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.64 TZS 12.2K
$2.24 TZS 5,901
107.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.76 TZS 9,882
$6.13 TZS 16.1K
-38.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.11 TZS 2,926
$2.83 TZS 7,430
-60.78%
Banana (1kg)
$0.54 TZS 1,432
$1.15 TZS 3,013
-53.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.59 TZS 1,557
$0.78 TZS 2,058
-24.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.37 TZS 965
$0.59 TZS 1,553
-37.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 TZS 2,084
$0.90 TZS 2,376
-12.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 TZS 1,468
$1.48 TZS 3,897
-62.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 TZS 2,202
$0.74 TZS 1,951
13.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TZS 652
$0.49 TZS 1,281
-48.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.52 TZS 4,003
$2.18 TZS 5,734
-30.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.05 TZS 13.3K
$9.53 TZS 25.0K
-47.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 TZS 1,933
$1.47 TZS 3,861
-49.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 TZS 3,962
$1.36 TZS 3,565
11.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 TZS 822
$0.29 TZS 759
6.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.35 TZS 21.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 TZS 4,220
$3.73 TZS 9,812
-56.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 TZS 1,544
$0.74 TZS 1,949
-20.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.41 TZS 35.3K
$2.57 TZS 6,764
421.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 TZS 2,078
$1.19 TZS 3,136
-33.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.6K TZS 43.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K TZS 69.1M
$49.9K TZS 131.3M
-47.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.0 TZS 147.2K
$72.8 TZS 191.4K
-23.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.04 TZS 23.8K
$11.55 TZS 30.4K
-21.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.42 TZS 90.5K
$48.94 TZS 128.7K
-29.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.54 TZS 30.3K
$29.48 TZS 77.5K
-60.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 TZS 13.0K
$9.43 TZS 24.8K
-47.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$579 TZS 1.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,591 TZS 20.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.60 TZS 20.0K
$12.94 TZS 34.0K
-41.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.34 TZS 69.3K
$16.89 TZS 44.4K
55.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.66 TZS 117.4K
$15.29 TZS 40.2K
192.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$18.60 TZS 48.9K
$13.49 TZS 35.5K
37.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$75.0 TZS 197.3K
$147 TZS 387.6K
-49.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$101 TZS 264.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$191 TZS 503.4K
$199 TZS 523.4K
-3.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$94.4 TZS 248.3K
$150 TZS 395.6K
-37.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$37.2K TZS 97.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$11.1K TZS 29.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Morogoro
Zanzibar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$309 TZS 811.2K
$314 TZS 825.8K
-1.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.25
10
82.50%

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

Last update for Morogoro: September 8, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.0 in Morogoro versus $147 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 2% higher in Zanzibar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Morogoro versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $124 vs $166 – making Morogoro 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
Morogoro vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Morogoro or Zanzibar?
Zanzibar costs about 51% more than Morogoro, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Morogoro and in Zanzibar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $570 per month in Morogoro and $860 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Morogoro or Zanzibar?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Morogoro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Morogoro compared to Zanzibar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $380 in Morogoro and $574 in Zanzibar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Morogoro or in Zanzibar?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Zanzibar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Morogoro or in Zanzibar?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $380 in Morogoro and $574 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Morogoro – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Morogoro or to Zanzibar?
If budget matters most, go with Morogoro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zanzibar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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