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: $451 in Zanzibar versus $432 in Bagamoyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $702 in Zanzibar versus $710 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $954 in Zanzibar versus $988 in Bagamoyo.

Living in Zanzibar is roughly 4% more expensive than Bagamoyo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zanzibar 66% lower, Bagamoyo 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$1.96 TZS 5,061

148.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$11.57 TZS 29.8K

93.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$7.68 TZS 19.8K

-24.09%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$1.95 TZS 5,028

11.79%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.36 TZS 932

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.20 TZS 506

55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$1.04 TZS 2,690

86.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$1.90 TZS 4,905

45.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$0.76 TZS 1,952

132.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.76 TZS 1,963

-2.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$0.41 TZS 1,055

112.20%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$2.06 TZS 5,323

39.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 TZS 25.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$5.87 TZS 15.1K

-61.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$4.15 TZS 10.7K

14.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$2.63 TZS 6,794

11.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$0.99 TZS 2,555

14.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$1.01 TZS 2,616

-25.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$0.56 TZS 1,437

5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$0.32 TZS 828

190.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$0.32 TZS 837

393.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.85 TZS 2,194

-12.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.41 TZS 1,055

12.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$2.06 TZS 5,322

2.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$7.09 TZS 18.3K

34.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$0.96 TZS 2,483

82.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$1.67 TZS 4,312

-21.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,803

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 TZS 2,887

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$13.69 TZS 35.3K

-79.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.24 TZS 3,203

-3.23%

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

$17.1K TZS 44.0M

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

$17.3K TZS 44.6M

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

$97.4 TZS 251.1K

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$4.77 TZS 12.3K

119.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$23.11 TZS 59.6K

-1.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$4.86 TZS 12.5K

93.83%

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

$252 TZS 650.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K TZS 50.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$25.98 TZS 67.0K

-48.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$41.99 TZS 108.3K

-58.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$46.51 TZS 119.9K

-67.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$42.78 TZS 110.3K

-67.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$57.9 TZS 149.3K

156.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$231 TZS 596.8K

-12.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$116 TZS 298.1K

29.47%

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 %)

19.67

-49.16%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bagamoyo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $148 in Zanzibar and $57.9 in Bagamoyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Zanzibar vs $12.00 in Bagamoyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $138 vs $154, 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

Bagamoyo wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Zanzibar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bagamoyo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $676 in Zanzibar and $648 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: $148 in Zanzibar versus $57.9 in Bagamoyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $451 per month in Zanzibar versus $432 in Bagamoyo – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Zanzibar pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bagamoyo 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.

Expats usually find Bagamoyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.