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 $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $851 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,361 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,871 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 47% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Dar es Salaam 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$2.74 TZS 7,055

77.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$19.65 TZS 50.7K

13.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$7.84 TZS 20.2K

-25.64%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$2.03 TZS 5,235

7.39%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.35 TZS 907

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.22 TZS 565

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$1.04 TZS 2,679

86.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$1.96 TZS 5,066

41.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$1.06 TZS 2,745

66.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.77 TZS 1,991

-3.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$1.10 TZS 2,834

-20.91%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$1.99 TZS 5,123

44.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 TZS 23.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$5.94 TZS 15.3K

-61.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$4.23 TZS 10.9K

12.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$2.57 TZS 6,641

13.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$1.03 TZS 2,647

9.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$1.06 TZS 2,727

-29.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$1.05 TZS 2,698

-43.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$0.95 TZS 2,444

-2.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$1.57 TZS 4,038

0.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.85 TZS 2,183

-12.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.40 TZS 1,040

15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$2.01 TZS 5,176

4.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$6.93 TZS 17.9K

37.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$0.95 TZS 2,463

84.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$1.62 TZS 4,190

-19.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.24 TZS 613

170.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 TZS 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 TZS 3,778

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 TZS 4,039

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$13.67 TZS 35.2K

-79.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.24 TZS 3,205

-3.23%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

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

$97.8 TZS 252.1K

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$10.72 TZS 27.6K

-2.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$31.50 TZS 81.3K

-27.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$94.0 TZS 242.5K

-77.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.97 TZS 12.8K

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$4.85 TZS 12.5K

94.23%

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

$256 TZS 659.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K TZS 49.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$25.76 TZS 66.4K

-48.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$41.84 TZS 107.9K

-58.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$45.69 TZS 117.8K

-66.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$83.8 TZS 216.1K

-83.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$575 TZS 1.5M

-74.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$263 TZS 677.7K

-62.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$1,316 TZS 3.4M

-84.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$652 TZS 1.7M

-77.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

$1,526 TZS 3.9M

2421.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

$1,066 TZS 2.7M

966.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

$284 TZS 732.2K

13.96%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Zanzibar versus $575 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 14% 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 $20.00 in Dar es Salaam. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Zanzibar vs $166 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 89%, 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 $676 per month in Zanzibar and $1,276 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 $20.00 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 $451, than in Dar es Salaam at $851. 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.