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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $243 per month in Moshi vs $436 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $425 per month in Moshi vs $701 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $606 per month in Moshi vs $966 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

$3.08 TZS 7,970

$4.71 TZS 12.2K

-34.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.17 TZS 57.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 TZS 14.9K

Cappuccino

$2.24 TZS 5,805

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

$0.59 TZS 1,539

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 863

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 TZS 5,052

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 TZS 6,927

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 TZS 1,465

$1.79 TZS 4,634

-68.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,897

$0.71 TZS 1,851

2.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 TZS 3,522

$0.82 TZS 2,125

65.85%

Eggs

$2.98 TZS 7,709

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 TZS 22.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,767

$2.39 TZS 6,181

57.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.16 TZS 8,174

$4.62 TZS 12.0K

-31.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 TZS 7,594

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 TZS 1,046

$1.13 TZS 2,921

-64.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 TZS 3,980

$0.75 TZS 1,950

105.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,920

$0.57 TZS 1,472

29.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,079

$0.95 TZS 2,463

-15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 TZS 3,935

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 TZS 1,951

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,043

$0.50 TZS 1,282

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 TZS 5,433

Wine (Bottle)

$9.85 TZS 25.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 TZS 4,430

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 TZS 3,414

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

$0.64 TZS 1,650

-37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 TZS 7,075

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,178

$1.16 TZS 2,996

6.03%

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

$116 TZS 299.7K

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

$3.85 TZS 9,978

$10.43 TZS 27.0K

-63.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.04 TZS 59.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.69 TZS 56.1K

Cinema Ticket

$9.53 TZS 24.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.54 TZS 50.6K

$13.55 TZS 35.1K

44.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.57 TZS 45.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.76 TZS 40.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.29 TZS 34.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 TZS 380.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.7 TZS 258.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 TZS 513.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 TZS 491.0K

$151 TZS 390.2K

25.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.7K TZS 97.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$97.9 TZS 253.5K

$317 TZS 819.9K

-69.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Moshi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 223% 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 79%, 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 $365 per month in Moshi and $655 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $243 in Moshi and $436 in Zanzibar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 50% 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 $243 in Moshi and $436 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.