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: $574 in Zanzibar versus $391 in Bagamoyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $855 in Zanzibar versus $655 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,136 in Zanzibar versus $920 in Bagamoyo.

Living in Zanzibar is roughly 47% more expensive than in Bagamoyo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zanzibar 58% lower, Bagamoyo 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

$1.93 TZS 5,085

141.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 TZS 56.9K

$11.28 TZS 29.7K

91.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 TZS 14.8K

$8.76 TZS 23.0K

-35.73%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,741

$1.96 TZS 5,143

11.22%

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

$0.64 TZS 1,681

$0.32 TZS 853

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 802

$0.20 TZS 520

55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 TZS 5,053

$0.97 TZS 2,547

97.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,771

$1.93 TZS 5,078

33.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 TZS 5,615

$0.79 TZS 2,081

170.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 TZS 1,852

$0.60 TZS 1,578

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 TZS 2,230

$0.36 TZS 953

136.11%

Eggs

$2.74 TZS 7,197

$1.91 TZS 5,016

43.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 TZS 20.5K

$9.55 TZS 25.1K

-18.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.24 TZS 5,901

$4.57 TZS 12.0K

-50.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.13 TZS 16.1K

$3.94 TZS 10.4K

55.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 TZS 7,430

$2.60 TZS 6,823

8.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 3,013

$0.93 TZS 2,456

23.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,058

$0.97 TZS 2,539

-19.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,553

$0.60 TZS 1,566

-1.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,376

$0.31 TZS 827

190.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 TZS 3,897

$0.31 TZS 821

377.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$0.88 TZS 2,309

-15.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 TZS 1,281

$0.35 TZS 925

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 TZS 5,734

$2.33 TZS 6,127

-6.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.53 TZS 25.0K

$6.68 TZS 17.6K

42.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TZS 3,861

$0.89 TZS 2,342

65.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,565

$1.51 TZS 3,962

-9.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 TZS 9,812

$1.62 TZS 4,251

130.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,949

$1.48 TZS 3,884

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 TZS 6,764

$13.37 TZS 35.1K

-80.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,136

$1.32 TZS 3,472

-9.85%

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

$16.7K TZS 43.9M

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

$49.9K TZS 131.3M

$26.4K TZS 69.5M

88.97%

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

$72.8 TZS 191.4K

$55.6 TZS 146.2K

30.93%

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

$11.55 TZS 30.4K

$4.62 TZS 12.1K

150.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.94 TZS 128.7K

$22.93 TZS 60.3K

113.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 TZS 77.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.43 TZS 24.8K

$5.16 TZS 13.6K

82.75%

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

$576 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K TZS 35.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.94 TZS 34.0K

$14.15 TZS 37.2K

-8.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.89 TZS 44.4K

$26.01 TZS 68.4K

-35.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.29 TZS 40.2K

$44.03 TZS 115.8K

-65.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.49 TZS 35.5K

$66.5 TZS 174.7K

-79.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 TZS 387.6K

$57.2 TZS 150.4K

157.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 TZS 523.4K

$228 TZS 600.1K

-12.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 395.6K

$113 TZS 295.9K

33.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.2K TZS 97.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.1K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 TZS 825.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

-45.21%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bagamoyo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $147 in Zanzibar and $57.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Zanzibar vs $11.00 in Bagamoyo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $142 per month, with Bagamoyo cheaper across the board.

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 47% 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 $860 in Zanzibar and $586 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: $147 in Zanzibar versus $57.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $574 per month in Zanzibar versus $391 in Bagamoyo – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Zanzibar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 47% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.