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: $343 in Njombe versus $439 in Zanzibar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $524 in Njombe versus $701 in Zanzibar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $705 in Njombe versus $962 in Zanzibar.

Living in Njombe costs roughly 22% less than in Zanzibar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Njombe 74% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 TZS 2,510

$1.70 TZS 4,452

-43.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 TZS 1,452

$0.73 TZS 1,921

-24.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,482

$0.87 TZS 2,292

9.20%

Eggs

$1.38 TZS 3,614

$2.87 TZS 7,534

-51.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.3K

$2.36 TZS 6,194

66.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.01 TZS 7,897

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

-36.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 TZS 3,960

$2.94 TZS 7,715

-48.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 TZS 4,468

$1.19 TZS 3,116

42.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 TZS 4,983

$0.80 TZS 2,101

137.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,560

$0.56 TZS 1,471

75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 TZS 3,450

$0.94 TZS 2,475

39.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 TZS 6,631

$1.50 TZS 3,946

68.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 TZS 1,073

$0.79 TZS 2,068

-48.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 TZS 976

$0.50 TZS 1,311

-26.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.71 TZS 4,488

$2.02 TZS 5,289

-15.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$1.88 TZS 4,930

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

-80.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 TZS 3,466

$1.79 TZS 4,690

-26.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 TZS 5,676

$1.31 TZS 3,438

64.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 681

$0.63 TZS 1,666

-58.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.36 TZS 53.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 TZS 4,008

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 TZS 3,077

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.88 TZS 15.4K

$2.77 TZS 7,270

112.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,284

$1.16 TZS 3,036

7.76%

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

$18.3K TZS 47.9M

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

$11.4K TZS 30.0M

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

$20.93 TZS 54.9K

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

$15.20 TZS 39.9K

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

46.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 TZS 150.0K

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

149.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.08 TZS 60.6K

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

9.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.58 TZS 19.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 TZS 10.2K

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

-59.84%

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

$333 TZS 873.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.33 TZS 40.2K

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

14.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.54 TZS 56.5K

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

21.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$17.47 TZS 45.9K

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

15.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.60 TZS 40.9K

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

13.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 301.7K

$149 TZS 390.6K

-22.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$38.96 TZS 102.2K

$101 TZS 266.1K

-61.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 TZS 506.0K

$202 TZS 529.6K

-4.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 301.9K

$150 TZS 392.5K

-23.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 TZS 682.9K

$316 TZS 829.5K

-17.67%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Njombe and $149 in Zanzibar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zanzibar pays 21% 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 28% in total monthly costs ($343 vs $439 including rent). Njombe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 21% 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: $115 in Njombe versus $149 in Zanzibar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Zanzibar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $343 per month in Njombe versus $439 in Zanzibar – a 28% 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 28% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.