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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $439 per month in Zanzibar vs $874 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $701 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,402 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $962 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,930 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 50% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 67% lower, Dar es Salaam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

$2.74 TZS 7,178

74.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

$19.19 TZS 50.3K

16.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

$7.64 TZS 20.0K

-23.56%

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

$1.94 TZS 5,101

17.01%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

$0.36 TZS 938

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

$0.22 TZS 576

54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

$1.04 TZS 2,716

82.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

$1.89 TZS 4,966

42.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 TZS 4,452

$1.07 TZS 2,819

58.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,921

$0.83 TZS 2,178

-12.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,292

$1.09 TZS 2,855

-20.18%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,534

$2.06 TZS 5,395

39.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 TZS 25.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

-58.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

$4.36 TZS 11.5K

9.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

$2.56 TZS 6,728

14.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

$1.02 TZS 2,667

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

$1.06 TZS 2,794

-24.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,471

$1.09 TZS 2,858

-48.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$0.89 TZS 2,323

5.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,946

$1.51 TZS 3,951

-0.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

$0.91 TZS 2,387

-13.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,311

$0.40 TZS 1,057

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

$1.98 TZS 5,190

2.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

$6.98 TZS 18.3K

38.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

$0.95 TZS 2,488

88.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

$1.62 TZS 4,243

-19.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

$0.26 TZS 683

142.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.62 TZS 46.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 TZS 3,719

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 TZS 3,904

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

$13.51 TZS 35.5K

-79.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,036

$1.20 TZS 3,144

-3.33%

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

$16.8K TZS 44.1M

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

$17.3K TZS 45.3M

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

$97.0 TZS 254.6K

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

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

$10.92 TZS 28.7K

-5.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

$32.24 TZS 84.6K

-28.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

$95.1 TZS 249.5K

-77.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

107.92%

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

$258 TZS 676.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K TZS 49.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

$26.38 TZS 69.2K

-49.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

$42.45 TZS 111.4K

-58.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

$47.02 TZS 123.4K

-67.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

$84.8 TZS 222.5K

-83.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

$594 TZS 1.6M

-74.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

$262 TZS 686.3K

-61.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

$1,292 TZS 3.4M

-84.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

$652 TZS 1.7M

-77.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

$1,504 TZS 3.9M

2395.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

965.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$316 TZS 829.5K

$275 TZS 722.4K

14.82%

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 Dar es Salaam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $149 in Zanzibar versus $594 in Dar es Salaam. 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 15% higher in Zanzibar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Groceries tell a different story – $139 in Zanzibar vs $167 in Dar es Salaam – so Zanzibar wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Dar es Salaam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 99%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $659 per month in Zanzibar and $1,311 in Dar es Salaam. 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.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Dar es Salaam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar and $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zanzibar, where all-in costs run around $439, than in Dar es Salaam at $874. In Zanzibar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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