Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Hoi An Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Hoi An

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $741 in Hoi An, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,066 in Hoi An, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,390 in Hoi An, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 39% cheaper than Hoi An, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zanzibar and Hoi An are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Hoi An 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$1.55 ₫40.8K

214.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$17.28 ₫454.1K

29.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$3.77 ₫99.1K

54.64%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$1.54 ₫40.4K

41.56%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.53 ₫14.0K

13.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.29 ₫7,492

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$0.94 ₫24.7K

106.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$1.37 ₫36.1K

102.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$1.42 ₫37.2K

24.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.95 ₫24.9K

-22.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$1.09 ₫28.5K

-20.18%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$1.42 ₫37.3K

102.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 ₫329.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$3.74 ₫98.3K

-39.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$9.68 ₫254.2K

-50.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$2.69 ₫70.7K

8.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$0.87 ₫22.9K

29.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$0.91 ₫24.0K

-17.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$1.04 ₫27.4K

-43.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$1.14 ₫29.9K

-18.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$0.82 ₫21.5K

92.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.39 ₫10.3K

89.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.52 ₫13.6K

-11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$1.13 ₫29.7K

86.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$7.70 ₫202.4K

24.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$0.70 ₫18.3K

150.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$1.57 ₫41.2K

-16.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.24 ₫6,314

170.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.85 ₫101.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₫23.2K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₫17.9K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$2.81 ₫73.9K

-1.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$0.91 ₫23.9K

31.87%

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

$33.0K ₫867.1M

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

$27.9K ₫733.9M

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

$60.4 ₫1.6M

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$5.92 ₫155.5K

76.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$7.46 ₫196.1K

204.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$15.59 ₫409.6K

36.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.87 ₫127.9K

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$2.81 ₫73.9K

235.23%

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

$153 ₫4.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ₫383.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$22.55 ₫592.5K

-41.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$15.56 ₫409.0K

12.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$53.1 ₫1.4M

-71.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$77.5 ₫2.0M

-82.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$388 ₫10.2M

-61.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$341 ₫9.0M

-70.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$421 ₫11.1M

-52.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$439 ₫11.5M

-65.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

$1,527 ₫40.1M

2419.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

$948 ₫24.9M

1099.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

$284 ₫7.5M

13.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.34

-3.29%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Hoi An: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Zanzibar versus $388 in Hoi An. 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 $17.00 in Hoi An. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Zanzibar vs $181 in Hoi An – 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 Hoi An: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $451 in Zanzibar, $741 in Hoi An – roughly 64% apart. Hoi An costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Zanzibar and $1,111 in Hoi An. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar and $17.00 in Hoi An. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $451 in Zanzibar and $741 in Hoi An. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $451 in Zanzibar and $741 in Hoi An, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Hoi An has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $451 in Zanzibar to $741 in Hoi An. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Hoi An makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.