Cost of Living Comparison Between Njombe and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Njombe and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $336 in Njombe versus $581 in Zanzibar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $516 in Njombe versus $872 in Zanzibar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $696 in Njombe versus $1,163 in Zanzibar.

Living in Njombe costs roughly 42% less than in Zanzibar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Njombe 76% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,067

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 TZS 2,525

$2.07 TZS 5,438

-53.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 TZS 1,548

$0.75 TZS 1,978

-21.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,578

$0.86 TZS 2,251

13.95%

Eggs

$1.38 TZS 3,637

$2.68 TZS 7,052

-48.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.76 TZS 9,875

$2.26 TZS 5,939

66.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.05 TZS 8,009

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

-49.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 TZS 4,054

$2.92 TZS 7,665

-47.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 TZS 4,596

$1.11 TZS 2,919

57.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 TZS 4,670

$0.74 TZS 1,951

140.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 TZS 5,613

$0.58 TZS 1,528

268.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 TZS 3,574

$0.98 TZS 2,565

38.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 TZS 6,333

$1.55 TZS 4,079

55.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 TZS 1,047

$0.74 TZS 1,946

-45.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,046

$0.48 TZS 1,269

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 TZS 4,426

$2.17 TZS 5,697

-22.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$1.88 TZS 4,941

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

-80.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

$1.55 TZS 4,062

-15.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 TZS 5,439

$1.36 TZS 3,567

52.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 TZS 715

$0.29 TZS 759

-6.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.71 TZS 51.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,864

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

-61.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 TZS 2,894

$0.74 TZS 1,951

48.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 TZS 14.7K

$2.62 TZS 6,884

114.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,228

$1.16 TZS 3,039

6.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.8K TZS 46.8M

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

$11.2K TZS 29.6M

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

-77.13%

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

$20.40 TZS 53.6K

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

-72.33%

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

$15.27 TZS 40.2K

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

32.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.6 TZS 148.9K

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

16.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.60 TZS 59.4K

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

-23.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 TZS 19.4K

Cinema Ticket

$3.70 TZS 9,738

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

-61.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$315 TZS 828.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.27 TZS 40.2K

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

16.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.84 TZS 54.8K

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

24.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$16.93 TZS 44.5K

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

10.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.97 TZS 39.4K

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

15.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 300.0K

$150 TZS 393.4K

-23.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$37.47 TZS 98.5K

$101 TZS 264.6K

-62.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 TZS 504.1K

$203 TZS 534.6K

-5.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 293.7K

$149 TZS 392.4K

-25.16%

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)

$256 TZS 672.3K

$312 TZS 820.9K

-18.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.00%

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

Last update for Njombe: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $114 in Njombe and $150 in Zanzibar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zanzibar pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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

Njombe vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Njombe and Zanzibar differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($336 vs $581 including rent). Njombe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Zanzibar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $114 in Njombe versus $150 in Zanzibar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Zanzibar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $336 per month in Njombe versus $581 in Zanzibar – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Njombe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Njombe and Zanzibar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Njombe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.