Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $189 per month in Mwanza vs $581 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $293 per month in Mwanza vs $872 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $397 per month in Mwanza vs $1,163 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Mwanza is about 67% cheaper than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mwanza and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Mwanza 86% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 TZS 6,275

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

-49.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.23 TZS 40.0K

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

-30.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 TZS 12.0K

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

-17.27%

Cappuccino

$2.67 TZS 7,007

$2.13 TZS 5,598

25.35%

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 TZS 708

$0.31 TZS 805

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 TZS 2,588

$1.93 TZS 5,067

-49.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 TZS 3,530

$2.58 TZS 6,772

-48.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 TZS 2,388

$2.07 TZS 5,438

-56.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 TZS 3,889

$0.75 TZS 1,978

97.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,530

$0.86 TZS 2,251

11.63%

Eggs

$2.13 TZS 5,609

$2.68 TZS 7,052

-20.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,500

$0.98 TZS 2,565

-3.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 TZS 3,402

$1.55 TZS 4,079

-16.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 TZS 959

$0.48 TZS 1,269

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 TZS 4,154

$1.16 TZS 3,039

36.21%

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

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

$67.0 TZS 176.2K

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

-9.13%

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 TZS 500.4K

$312 TZS 820.9K

-39.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mwanza: August 30, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 64% higher in Zanzibar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Mwanza versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $46.00 vs $166 – making Mwanza the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Mwanza vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zanzibar is pricier by about 207%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $284 per month in Mwanza and $871 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 261% more in Zanzibar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Mwanza and $22.00 in Zanzibar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $189 in Mwanza and $581 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

If budget matters most, go with Mwanza. 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.