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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $439 per month in Zanzibar vs $200 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $701 per month in Zanzibar vs $357 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $962 per month in Zanzibar vs $514 in Arusha, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 120% more than Arusha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 67% lower, Arusha 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

$3.38 TZS 8,877

41.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

$28.02 TZS 73.5K

-20.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

$9.16 TZS 24.0K

-36.24%

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

$1.74 TZS 4,574

30.46%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

$0.43 TZS 1,127

39.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

$0.33 TZS 878

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

$1.08 TZS 2,832

75.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

$2.83 TZS 7,424

-4.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 TZS 4,452

$0.64 TZS 1,691

165.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,921

$0.57 TZS 1,492

28.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,292

$0.89 TZS 2,325

-2.25%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,534

$1.72 TZS 4,500

66.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,471

$0.75 TZS 1,967

-25.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$0.41 TZS 1,066

129.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,946

$0.98 TZS 2,572

53.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,311

$0.46 TZS 1,217

8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

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)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

$0.19 TZS 506

231.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 TZS 5,061

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

$7.81 TZS 20.5K

-64.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,036

$1.19 TZS 3,125

-2.52%

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

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

$9.46 TZS 24.8K

9.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

$50.7 TZS 133.1K

-54.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

$3.76 TZS 9,879

158.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K TZS 26.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

$289 TZS 757.2K

-30.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$316 TZS 829.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arusha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $28.00 in Arusha. Groceries tell a different story – $139 in Zanzibar vs $35.00 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: $439 in Zanzibar, $200 in Arusha – roughly 120% apart. Zanzibar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $659 per month in Zanzibar and $300 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 $439 in Zanzibar and $200 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 $439 in Zanzibar and $200 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.