Cost of Living Comparison Between Songea and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Songea and Zanzibar

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 TZS 12.3K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.17 TZS 57.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 TZS 15.1K

Cappuccino

$2.24 TZS 5,853

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

$0.59 TZS 1,552

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 870

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 TZS 5,094

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 TZS 6,985

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 TZS 4,672

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 TZS 1,866

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 TZS 2,143

Eggs

$2.98 TZS 7,774

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.39 TZS 6,233

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.62 TZS 12.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 TZS 7,657

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,945

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,966

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 TZS 1,484

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,484

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 TZS 3,968

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 TZS 1,968

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,293

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 TZS 5,479

Wine (Bottle)

$9.85 TZS 25.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 TZS 4,467

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 TZS 3,442

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 TZS 1,664

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 TZS 7,134

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,021

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

$10.43 TZS 27.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.04 TZS 60.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.69 TZS 56.6K

Cinema Ticket

$9.53 TZS 24.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.55 TZS 35.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.57 TZS 45.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.76 TZS 41.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.29 TZS 34.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 TZS 383.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.7 TZS 260.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 TZS 517.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 TZS 393.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.7K TZS 98.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$317 TZS 826.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Songea: April 28, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: April 26, 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

Songea vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Songea is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zanzibar, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Songea 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.

It comes down to priorities – Songea wins on affordability, Zanzibar on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.