Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Bagamoyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Bagamoyo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $439 in Zanzibar versus $441 in Bagamoyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $701 in Zanzibar versus $706 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $962 in Zanzibar versus $971 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs are close between Zanzibar and Bagamoyo; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zanzibar 67% lower, Bagamoyo 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

$1.98 TZS 5,185

140.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

$11.46 TZS 30.1K

94.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

$7.94 TZS 20.8K

-26.45%

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

$1.95 TZS 5,111

16.41%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

$0.37 TZS 960

62.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

$0.21 TZS 561

61.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

$1.04 TZS 2,730

82.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

$1.96 TZS 5,136

37.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 TZS 4,452

$0.75 TZS 1,959

126.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,921

$0.81 TZS 2,132

-9.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,292

$0.38 TZS 990

128.95%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,534

$2.01 TZS 5,280

42.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 TZS 24.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

$5.91 TZS 15.5K

-60.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

$4.38 TZS 11.5K

8.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

$2.66 TZS 6,970

10.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

$0.95 TZS 2,489

25.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

$1.05 TZS 2,760

-23.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,471

$0.57 TZS 1,487

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$0.30 TZS 778

213.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,946

$0.30 TZS 783

400.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

$0.88 TZS 2,317

-10.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,311

$0.41 TZS 1,063

21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

$2.00 TZS 5,249

1.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

42.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

$0.89 TZS 2,342

101.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

$1.62 TZS 4,253

-19.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 TZS 3,741

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 TZS 3,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

$13.79 TZS 36.2K

-79.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,036

$1.22 TZS 3,200

-4.92%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.7M

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

$17.4K TZS 45.8M

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

$97.7 TZS 256.3K

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

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

$4.87 TZS 12.8K

112.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

$22.94 TZS 60.2K

-0.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

$4.89 TZS 12.8K

98.57%

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

$257 TZS 674.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K TZS 49.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

$25.92 TZS 68.0K

-48.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

$43.36 TZS 113.8K

-59.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

$47.25 TZS 124.0K

-67.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

$42.90 TZS 112.6K

-68.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

$58.2 TZS 152.7K

155.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

$230 TZS 603.9K

-12.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

$117 TZS 306.0K

28.24%

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 %)

19.67

-49.16%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bagamoyo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $149 in Zanzibar and $58.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Zanzibar vs $11.00 in Bagamoyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $139 vs $153, with Zanzibar cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bagamoyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $659 in Zanzibar and $662 in Bagamoyo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $149 in Zanzibar versus $58.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zanzibar – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $11.00 in Bagamoyo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Bagamoyo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zanzibar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Zanzibar and Bagamoyo 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 – Zanzibar wins on affordability, Bagamoyo on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.