Cost of Living Comparison Between Moshi and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Moshi and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $248 per month in Moshi vs $441 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $429 per month in Moshi vs $713 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $609 per month in Moshi vs $985 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Moshi is about 44% cheaper than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Moshi and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Moshi 82% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 TZS 7,948

$4.95 TZS 12.9K

-38.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.32 TZS 58.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 TZS 15.3K

Cappuccino

$2.20 TZS 5,733

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

$0.59 TZS 1,549

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 869

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 TZS 4,938

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 TZS 7,262

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,454

$1.77 TZS 4,614

-68.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,962

$0.74 TZS 1,926

1.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 TZS 3,436

$0.86 TZS 2,253

53.49%

Eggs

$2.88 TZS 7,517

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.72 TZS 22.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,943

$2.30 TZS 5,995

65.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.07 TZS 8,002

$4.72 TZS 12.3K

-34.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 TZS 7,657

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 TZS 1,055

$1.13 TZS 2,937

-64.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,133

$0.75 TZS 1,948

110.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$0.55 TZS 1,442

36.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,042

$0.93 TZS 2,427

-16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 TZS 3,954

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,939

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

$0.50 TZS 1,310

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 TZS 5,490

Wine (Bottle)

$9.36 TZS 24.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 TZS 4,432

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 TZS 3,575

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,056

$0.64 TZS 1,683

-37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 TZS 7,037

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,268

$1.22 TZS 3,194

2.46%

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

$118 TZS 307.8K

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

$3.92 TZS 10.2K

$10.35 TZS 27.0K

-62.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 TZS 61.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.17 TZS 55.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.41 TZS 24.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.35 TZS 50.5K

$13.28 TZS 34.7K

45.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.60 TZS 45.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.44 TZS 40.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.66 TZS 35.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 TZS 384.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.1 TZS 255.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 TZS 516.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 TZS 511.7K

$148 TZS 385.9K

32.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.1K TZS 99.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K TZS 29.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.5 TZS 249.2K

$317 TZS 826.4K

-69.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Moshi: June 7, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 232% higher in Zanzibar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Moshi vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zanzibar is pricier by about 78%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $372 per month in Moshi and $661 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $248 in Moshi and $441 in Zanzibar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 49% more in Zanzibar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $248 in Moshi and $441 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Moshi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Moshi. 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.