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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.65 TZS 12.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.43 TZS 56.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 TZS 14.7K

Cappuccino

$2.11 TZS 5,536

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

$0.62 TZS 1,624

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 TZS 774

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 TZS 4,813

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 TZS 6,962

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 TZS 5,504

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 2,023

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,093

Eggs

$2.75 TZS 7,203

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.63 TZS 20.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,989

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.99 TZS 15.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 TZS 7,218

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 TZS 2,938

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 TZS 2,000

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 TZS 1,451

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,349

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 TZS 4,036

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 TZS 2,034

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 TZS 1,175

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 TZS 5,664

Wine (Bottle)

$9.41 TZS 24.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TZS 3,847

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 TZS 3,546

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 758

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 9,985

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 TZS 2,023

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 TZS 7,019

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 TZS 2,996

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

$48.5K TZS 127.2M

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

$72.9 TZS 191.4K

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

$11.10 TZS 29.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.65 TZS 127.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.06 TZS 76.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.21 TZS 24.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.90 TZS 33.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.73 TZS 43.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.23 TZS 40.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.01 TZS 34.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 TZS 396.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 TZS 263.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 530.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 TZS 384.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.2K TZS 97.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.1K TZS 29.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$316 TZS 829.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mtwara: August 17, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: August 16, 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.