Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Zanzibar

😐 Solo nomad: Phuket is 129.2% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 180% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Phuket is 88.4% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 242.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.65 ฿147
$4.86 TZS 12.3K
-4.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.11 ฿1,460
$21.91 TZS 55.5K
110.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.74 ฿277
$5.67 TZS 14.4K
54.14%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ฿96.2
$2.17 TZS 5,495
40.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ฿22.80
$0.64 TZS 1,609
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿12.38
$0.31 TZS 784
25.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿77.2
$1.92 TZS 4,852
27.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿120
$2.68 TZS 6,793
41.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ฿67.9
$1.78 TZS 4,499
20.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 ฿58.9
$0.73 TZS 1,848
154.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ฿69.2
$0.82 TZS 2,075
167.07%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿71.1
$2.98 TZS 7,539
-24.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.73 ฿625
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.79 ฿120
$2.26 TZS 5,729
67.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.55 ฿429
$4.63 TZS 11.7K
192.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 ฿103
$2.88 TZS 7,301
12.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ฿52.9
$1.18 TZS 2,999
41.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿75.7
$0.74 TZS 1,868
222.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 ฿66.2
$0.56 TZS 1,415
273.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿48.39
$0.93 TZS 2,364
64.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿47.79
$1.52 TZS 3,851
-0.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿31.30
$0.80 TZS 2,036
23.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.30
$0.49 TZS 1,254
4.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿135
$2.09 TZS 5,296
104.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.31 ฿643
$9.88 TZS 25.0K
105.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿56.7
$1.73 TZS 4,372
3.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ฿87.6
$1.39 TZS 3,509
99.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿44.44
$0.60 TZS 1,530
133.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿370
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿98.4
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿31.48
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.73 ฿435
$2.64 TZS 6,679
420.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ฿41.75
$1.22 TZS 3,096
8.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿862.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K ฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ฿3,811
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿441
$10.32 TZS 26.2K
34.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿579
$23.32 TZS 59.1K
-21.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.9 ฿1,928
$21.42 TZS 54.3K
184.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23 ฿545
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.71 ฿276
$9.70 TZS 24.6K
-10.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿498.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,824
$13.14 TZS 33.3K
338.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.24 ฿1,084
$17.21 TZS 43.6K
98.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,582
$15.24 TZS 38.6K
642.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 ฿2,684
$13.56 TZS 34.3K
525.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$604 ฿19.1K
$149 TZS 377.4K
305.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$436 ฿13.8K
$101 TZS 254.6K
333.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 ฿65.1K
$200 TZS 505.6K
930.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,498 ฿47.4K
$147 TZS 371.6K
921.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,252 ฿134.6K
$38.8K TZS 98.3M
-89.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,988 ฿94.6K
$11.7K TZS 29.6M
-74.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Zanzibar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$529 ฿16.7K
$329 TZS 834.3K
60.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10
-46.70%

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

Last update for Phuket: February 28, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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