Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam

🙂 Solo nomad: Zanzibar is 43.4% cheaper than Dar es Salaam without rent, and 49% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Zanzibar is 21% cheaper than Dar es Salaam without rent, and 49.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.86 TZS 12.3K
$2.76 TZS 6,987
76.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.91 TZS 55.5K
$19.68 TZS 49.9K
11.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 TZS 14.4K
$7.83 TZS 19.8K
-27.59%
Cappuccino
$2.17 TZS 5,495
$1.95 TZS 4,946
11.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 TZS 1,609
$0.38 TZS 973
68.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 TZS 784
$0.22 TZS 555
40.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 TZS 4,852
$1.07 TZS 2,718
79.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 TZS 6,793
$1.97 TZS 4,980
36.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 TZS 4,499
$1.07 TZS 2,711
66.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 TZS 1,848
$0.77 TZS 1,945
-5.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 TZS 2,075
$1.08 TZS 2,733
-24.07%
Eggs
$2.98 TZS 7,539
$1.98 TZS 5,009
50.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$9.50 TZS 24.1K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.26 TZS 5,729
$5.88 TZS 14.9K
-61.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.63 TZS 11.7K
$4.24 TZS 10.7K
9.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 TZS 7,301
$2.56 TZS 6,492
12.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 TZS 2,999
$1.05 TZS 2,672
12.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.74 TZS 1,868
$1.06 TZS 2,686
-30.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 TZS 1,415
$1.03 TZS 2,606
-45.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 TZS 2,364
$0.95 TZS 2,398
-2.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 TZS 3,851
$1.51 TZS 3,817
0.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 TZS 2,036
$0.83 TZS 2,097
-3.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 TZS 1,254
$0.44 TZS 1,103
11.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09 TZS 5,296
$2.01 TZS 5,100
3.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.88 TZS 25.0K
$6.58 TZS 16.7K
50.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 TZS 4,372
$0.97 TZS 2,455
78.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 TZS 3,509
$1.67 TZS 4,235
-16.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 TZS 1,530
$0.26 TZS 660
130.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$17.32 TZS 43.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.42 TZS 3,591
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.49 TZS 3,780
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 TZS 6,679
$13.59 TZS 34.4K
-80.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 TZS 3,096
$1.24 TZS 3,150
-1.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.0K TZS 43.0M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$17.2K TZS 43.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$97.4 TZS 246.6K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.32 TZS 26.2K
$10.63 TZS 26.9K
-2.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.32 TZS 59.1K
$32.10 TZS 81.3K
-27.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.42 TZS 54.3K
$93.4 TZS 236.7K
-77.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$4.92 TZS 12.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.70 TZS 24.6K
$4.71 TZS 11.9K
105.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$258 TZS 653.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$19.0K TZS 48.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.14 TZS 33.3K
$26.27 TZS 66.5K
-49.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.21 TZS 43.6K
$42.35 TZS 107.3K
-59.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$15.24 TZS 38.6K
$45.48 TZS 115.2K
-66.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$13.56 TZS 34.3K
$84.3 TZS 213.5K
-83.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$149 TZS 377.4K
$577 TZS 1.5M
-74.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$101 TZS 254.6K
$261 TZS 662.4K
-61.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$200 TZS 505.6K
$1,326 TZS 3.4M
-84.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 TZS 371.6K
$662 TZS 1.7M
-77.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$38.8K TZS 98.3M
$1,521 TZS 3.9M
2452.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.7K TZS 29.6M
$1,081 TZS 2.7M
982.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$329 TZS 834.3K
$268 TZS 679.9K
22.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
19.67
-49.16%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: March 2, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities