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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $615 per month in Tehran vs $581 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,038 per month in Tehran vs $872 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,462 per month in Tehran vs $1,163 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Tehran costs about 6% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tehran and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 55% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 $3.41

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

-27.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.42 $16.42

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

-24.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.94 $3.94

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

-28.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 $0.96

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$1.34 $1.34

$2.13 TZS 5,598

-37.09%

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

$0.50 $0.50

$0.63 TZS 1,649

-20.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.31 TZS 805

432.26%

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)

$0.67 $0.67

$2.07 TZS 5,438

-67.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.75 TZS 1,978

-24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$0.86 TZS 2,251

304.65%

Eggs

$1.29 $1.29

$2.68 TZS 7,052

-51.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

-44.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.26 TZS 5,939

43.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

61.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.92 TZS 7,665

-56.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.11 TZS 2,919

60.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.74 TZS 1,951

54.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.58 TZS 1,528

15.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.98 TZS 2,565

-43.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$1.55 TZS 4,079

-67.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.74 TZS 1,946

-24.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.48 TZS 1,269

-35.42%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.17 TZS 5,697

11.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 $0.10

$0.29 TZS 759

-65.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.37 $5.37

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

-86.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.74 TZS 1,951

-58.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.62 TZS 6,884

12.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.08 $0.08

$1.16 TZS 3,039

-93.10%

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

$50.4K $50.4K

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

$43.7K $43.7K

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

-11.16%

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

$13.57 $13.57

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

-81.60%

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

$1.61 $1.61

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

-86.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.78 $3.78

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

-92.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.67 $24.67

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

-16.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.41 $13.41

Cinema Ticket

$1.99 $1.99

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

-79.40%

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

$108 $108

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,611 $2,611

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.47 $26.47

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

101.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.04 $37.04

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

121.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

594.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 $75.4

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

481.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 $419

$150 TZS 393.4K

179.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 $254

$101 TZS 264.6K

152.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 $988

$203 TZS 534.6K

385.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 $611

$149 TZS 392.4K

309.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,274 $1,274

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

-96.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$720 $720

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

-93.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$219 $219

$312 TZS 820.9K

-29.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.42

134.20%

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

Last update for Tehran: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $419 in Tehran versus $150 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 43% 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 $16.00 in Tehran versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $123 vs $166 – 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 6%, 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 $922 per month in Tehran and $871 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 35% 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 $16.00 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 $615 in Tehran and $581 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.