Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $692 per month in Tehran vs $439 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,123 per month in Tehran vs $701 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,555 per month in Tehran vs $962 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Tehran costs about 58% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tehran and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 48% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 $4.05

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

-15.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.29 $18.29

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

-18.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 $5.10

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

-12.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 $0.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$2.27 TZS 5,963

-42.73%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.60 TZS 1,587

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.34 TZS 880

217.65%

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)

$0.58 $0.58

$1.70 TZS 4,452

-65.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 $0.54

$0.73 TZS 1,921

-26.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$0.87 TZS 2,292

112.64%

Eggs

$1.19 $1.19

$2.87 TZS 7,534

-58.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.36 TZS 6,194

42.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

126.05%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.94 TZS 7,715

-68.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.19 TZS 3,116

18.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.80 TZS 2,101

2.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.56 TZS 1,471

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.94 TZS 2,475

-45.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$1.50 TZS 3,946

-66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.79 TZS 2,068

-24.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.50 TZS 1,311

-50.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.02 TZS 5,289

21.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.63 TZS 1,666

-61.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 $9.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 $0.48

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.77 TZS 7,270

11.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.16 TZS 3,036

-32.76%

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

$79.7K $79.7K

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

$53.9K $53.9K

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

$15.97 $15.97

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

$2.17 $2.17

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

-79.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.60 $5.60

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

-75.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.81 $22.81

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

8.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.73 $11.73

Cinema Ticket

$1.53 $1.53

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

-84.24%

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

$127 $127

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,949 $1,949

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.39 $31.39

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

134.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.37 $34.37

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

94.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 $124

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

716.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 $69.9

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

409.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 $491

$149 TZS 390.6K

230.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 $347

$101 TZS 266.1K

242.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 $1,012

$202 TZS 529.6K

401.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 $719

$150 TZS 392.5K

380.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,244 $1,244

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

-96.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$734 $734

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

-93.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$217 $217

$316 TZS 829.5K

-31.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

150.70%

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

Last update for Tehran: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Tehran versus $149 in Zanzibar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 46% higher in Zanzibar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tehran versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $139 – making Tehran the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Tehran vs Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,038 per month in Tehran and $659 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Tehran – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tehran and $22.00 in Zanzibar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $692 in Tehran and $439 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – 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 Zanzibar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tehran makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.