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 $581 per month in Zanzibar vs $720 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,136 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,163 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,553 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 19% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 58% lower, Dar es Salaam 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

$1.94 TZS 5,103

142.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

$19.12 TZS 50.3K

13.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

$8.32 TZS 21.9K

-33.89%

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

$1.90 TZS 4,985

12.11%

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

$0.34 TZS 905

85.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

$0.22 TZS 578

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,067

$0.97 TZS 2,548

98.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

$1.86 TZS 4,883

38.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TZS 5,438

$0.81 TZS 2,122

155.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,978

$0.57 TZS 1,492

31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,251

$1.05 TZS 2,766

-18.10%

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,052

$1.93 TZS 5,063

38.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

-20.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

$4.61 TZS 12.1K

-50.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

56.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

$2.49 TZS 6,537

17.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

$1.05 TZS 2,763

5.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$0.99 TZS 2,608

-25.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

$1.03 TZS 2,718

-43.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,565

$0.92 TZS 2,414

6.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 TZS 4,079

$1.07 TZS 2,800

44.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$0.87 TZS 2,283

-14.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 TZS 1,269

$0.38 TZS 1,012

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

$2.30 TZS 6,057

-5.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

41.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

$0.82 TZS 2,153

89.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

$1.52 TZS 4,003

-10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

$0.24 TZS 630

20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.92 TZS 39.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

$1.61 TZS 4,234

136.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$1.55 TZS 4,075

-52.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

-80.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,039

$1.32 TZS 3,467

-12.12%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.8M

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

$26.0K TZS 68.4M

89.03%

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

$55.7 TZS 146.5K

32.35%

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

$8.90 TZS 23.4K

29.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

$34.85 TZS 91.6K

39.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

$80.3 TZS 211.1K

-63.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 TZS 22.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$5.12 TZS 13.4K

88.67%

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

$564 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K TZS 35.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$14.28 TZS 37.5K

-8.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

$25.97 TZS 68.3K

-35.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

$43.83 TZS 115.2K

-64.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

$66.1 TZS 173.8K

-80.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

$585 TZS 1.5M

-74.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

$201 TZS 529.7K

-50.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

-85.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

$430 TZS 1.1M

-65.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

$1,526 TZS 4.0M

2358.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

$1,059 TZS 2.8M

991.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 TZS 820.9K

$277 TZS 727.3K

12.87%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $150 in Zanzibar versus $585 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 13% 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. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $151 – making Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 24%, 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 $871 per month in Zanzibar and $1,079 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Dar es Salaam – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

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 $581, than in Dar es Salaam at $720. 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.