Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moshi and Zanzibar

For one person, living is cheaper in Moshi: $247 a month against $582 in Zanzibar, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Zanzibar
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Zanzibar Living Index

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Moshi

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$247

/mo nomad

Zanzibar

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$582

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moshi and in Zanzibar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moshi and in Zanzibar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $247 per month in Moshi vs $582 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Moshi $247
Zanzibar $582

A couple spends around $427 per month in Moshi vs $866 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Moshi $427
Zanzibar $866

A family of three spends $607 per month in Moshi vs $1,150 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Moshi $607
Zanzibar $1,150

Moshi is about 58% cheaper than Zanzibar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Moshi and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Moshi 82% lower, Zanzibar 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 TZS 7,795

$4.65 TZS 12.2K

-36.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.37 TZS 56.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.81 TZS 15.3K

Cappuccino

$2.23 TZS 5,884

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

$0.62 TZS 1,643

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 875

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 TZS 4,868

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,090

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,473

$2.03 TZS 5,346

-72.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 TZS 2,049

$0.77 TZS 2,025

1.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 TZS 3,385

$0.79 TZS 2,073

62.03%

Eggs

$2.79 TZS 7,363

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.45 TZS 22.3K

$7.49 TZS 19.7K

12.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 TZS 10.2K

$2.30 TZS 6,068

69.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.09 TZS 8,136

$6.22 TZS 16.4K

-50.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 TZS 7,329

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 TZS 1,042

$1.16 TZS 3,066

-65.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 TZS 3,877

$0.75 TZS 1,966

96.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

$0.59 TZS 1,550

35.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,949

$0.94 TZS 2,477

-21.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 TZS 3,879

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 TZS 1,926

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,043

$0.45 TZS 1,177

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,705

Wine (Bottle)

$9.39 TZS 24.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 TZS 4,030

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 TZS 3,436

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 TZS 2,102

$0.31 TZS 826

158.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.80 TZS 10.0K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,945

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 TZS 7,124

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,130

$1.27 TZS 3,338

-6.30%

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

$50.3K TZS 132.7M

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

$116 TZS 304.5K

$73.0 TZS 192.2K

58.40%

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

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

$11.14 TZS 29.4K

-65.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.10 TZS 129.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.01 TZS 76.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.84 TZS 49.6K

$12.86 TZS 33.9K

46.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.32 TZS 45.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.28 TZS 40.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.18 TZS 34.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 TZS 398.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 265.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 TZS 519.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 TZS 498.2K

$147 TZS 388.0K

28.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.2K TZS 100.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K TZS 29.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$94.0 TZS 247.6K

$314 TZS 826.3K

-70.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Moshi: November 2, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Moshi

–

Zanzibar

$165 28.3%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Moshi

–

Zanzibar

$133 22.9%

Accommodation & Living

Moshi

–

Zanzibar

$101 17.3%

Eating Out

Moshi

–

Zanzibar

$100 17.2%

Sport & Entertainment

Moshi

–

Zanzibar

$48 8.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Moshi

–

Zanzibar

$26 4.5%

Getting Around

Moshi

–

Zanzibar

$8.8 * 1.5%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Zanzibar are about 3.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇹🇿 Moshi

🇹🇿 Zanzibar

🕒 Local time

22:09 10:09 PM

Same time as Moshi

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

221,733

709,809

💱 Currency

Tanzanian Shilling TZS Sh

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.38 EUR

10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.38 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Moshi Zanzibar 380 km

From you

Moshi
Zanzibar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 136%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $370 per month in Moshi and $873 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $247 in Moshi and $582 in Zanzibar. That makes Moshi about 58% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Zanzibar, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $247 in Moshi and $582 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Zanzibar has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $247 in Moshi to $582 in Zanzibar. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Moshi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zanzibar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.