Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Beau Bassin-Rose Hill Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Beau Bassin-Rose Hill

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $439 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,055 in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, rent included.

A couple spends around $701 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,568 in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, rent included.

A family of three spends $962 per month in Zanzibar vs $2,082 in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 58% cheaper than Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Beau Bassin-Rose Hill are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 67% lower, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

$6.68 MUR 314

-28.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

$31.29 MUR 1,471

-28.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

$5.40 MUR 254

8.15%

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

$2.36 MUR 111

-3.81%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

$1.03 MUR 48.35

-41.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

$0.55 MUR 26.02

-38.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

$2.24 MUR 105

-15.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

$2.37 MUR 112

13.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 TZS 4,452

$1.37 MUR 64.4

24.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,921

$0.66 MUR 30.87

10.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,292

$1.33 MUR 62.4

-34.59%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,534

$2.23 MUR 105

28.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 MUR 589

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

$5.33 MUR 251

-55.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

$16.45 MUR 773

-71.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

$1.97 MUR 92.5

49.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

$2.00 MUR 93.9

-40.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

$1.49 MUR 69.9

-46.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,471

$2.64 MUR 124

-78.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$0.99 MUR 46.48

-5.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,946

$0.93 MUR 43.67

61.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

$0.85 MUR 39.86

-7.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,311

$0.79 MUR 37.18

-36.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

$6.76 MUR 318

-70.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

$8.60 MUR 404

12.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

$1.70 MUR 80.1

5.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

$2.14 MUR 100

-38.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

$0.68 MUR 32.13

-7.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 MUR 2,709

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 MUR 212

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 MUR 115

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

$19.74 MUR 928

-85.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,036

$1.45 MUR 67.9

-20.00%

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

$34.1K MUR 1.6M

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

$29.1K MUR 1.4M

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

$43.51 MUR 2,045

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

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

$12.14 MUR 570

-14.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

$33.60 MUR 1,579

-31.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

$28.83 MUR 1,355

-27.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.75 MUR 458

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

$6.00 MUR 282

61.83%

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

$157 MUR 7,379

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,929 MUR 184.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

$36.28 MUR 1,705

-63.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

$26.75 MUR 1,257

-33.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

$69.7 MUR 3,275

-78.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

$47.94 MUR 2,253

-71.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

$499 MUR 23.4K

-70.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

$416 MUR 19.5K

-75.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

$727 MUR 34.2K

-72.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

$628 MUR 29.5K

-76.19%

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

$783 MUR 36.8K

-59.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

90.48%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Beau Bassin-Rose Hill: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $149 in Zanzibar versus $499 in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 148% higher in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $31.00 in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $139 vs $237 – making Zanzibar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Beau Bassin-Rose Hill: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beau Bassin-Rose Hill costs about 140% more than Zanzibar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $659 per month in Zanzibar and $1,582 in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $439 in Zanzibar and $1,055 in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 70% more in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zanzibar, where all-in costs run around $439, than in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill at $1,055. In Zanzibar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zanzibar costs $439 versus $1,055 in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Zanzibar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.