Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Arusha Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Arusha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $201 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $358 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $514 in Arusha, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 124% more than Arusha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Arusha 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$3.40 TZS 8,767

43.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$27.94 TZS 72.1K

-19.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$9.09 TZS 23.4K

-35.86%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$1.70 TZS 4,382

28.24%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.43 TZS 1,113

39.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.31 TZS 799

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$1.08 TZS 2,790

79.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$2.98 TZS 7,677

-7.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$0.63 TZS 1,634

180.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.60 TZS 1,554

23.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$0.91 TZS 2,336

-4.40%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$1.70 TZS 4,384

68.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$0.79 TZS 2,027

-25.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$0.41 TZS 1,048

126.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$1.00 TZS 2,571

58.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.47 TZS 1,212

-2.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.19 TZS 497

242.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 TZS 4,992

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$7.50 TZS 19.3K

-63.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.23 TZS 3,184

-2.44%

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

11.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$50.3 TZS 129.7K

-54.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$3.97 TZS 10.2K

137.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K TZS 26.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$294 TZS 759.3K

-31.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Arusha: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $28.00 in Arusha. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Zanzibar vs $36.00 in Arusha – so Arusha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Zanzibar vs Arusha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $451 in Zanzibar, $201 in Arusha – roughly 124% apart. Zanzibar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Zanzibar and $302 in Arusha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar and $28.00 in Arusha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $451 in Zanzibar and $201 in Arusha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $451 in Zanzibar and $201 in Arusha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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