Cost of Living Comparison Between Mtwara and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Mtwara and Zanzibar

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 TZS 12.9K

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)

$1.77 TZS 4,614

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,926

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,253

Eggs

$2.88 TZS 7,517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.30 TZS 5,995

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 TZS 12.3K

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 TZS 7,657

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,937

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,948

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 TZS 1,442

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,427

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 TZS 3,954

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,939

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,310

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)

$0.64 TZS 1,683

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 TZS 7,037

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 TZS 3,194

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

$10.35 TZS 27.0K

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)

$13.28 TZS 34.7K

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)

$148 TZS 385.9K

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)

$317 TZS 826.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mtwara: June 8, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 7, 2026

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

Mtwara vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Families tend to lean toward Mtwara – 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 Mtwara. 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.