Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Morogoro Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Morogoro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $574 per month in Zanzibar vs $380 in Morogoro, rent included.

A couple spends around $855 per month in Zanzibar vs $640 in Morogoro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Zanzibar vs $900 in Morogoro, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 51% more than Morogoro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Morogoro are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 58% lower, Morogoro 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

$1.90 TZS 5,001

145.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 TZS 56.9K

$18.57 TZS 48.8K

16.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 TZS 14.8K

$8.45 TZS 22.2K

-33.37%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,741

$1.96 TZS 5,163

11.22%

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

$0.64 TZS 1,681

$0.38 TZS 989

68.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 802

$0.22 TZS 579

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 TZS 5,053

$0.98 TZS 2,587

95.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,771

$1.93 TZS 5,081

33.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 TZS 5,615

$0.72 TZS 1,883

197.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 TZS 1,852

$0.37 TZS 967

89.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 TZS 2,230

$0.99 TZS 2,596

-14.14%

Eggs

$2.74 TZS 7,197

$1.87 TZS 4,916

46.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 TZS 20.5K

$9.30 TZS 24.4K

-16.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.24 TZS 5,901

$4.64 TZS 12.2K

-51.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.13 TZS 16.1K

$3.76 TZS 9,882

63.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 TZS 7,430

$1.11 TZS 2,926

154.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 3,013

$0.54 TZS 1,432

112.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,058

$0.59 TZS 1,557

32.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,553

$0.37 TZS 965

59.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,376

$0.79 TZS 2,084

13.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 TZS 3,897

$0.56 TZS 1,468

164.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$0.84 TZS 2,202

-11.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 TZS 1,281

$0.25 TZS 652

96.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 TZS 5,734

$1.52 TZS 4,003

43.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.53 TZS 25.0K

$5.05 TZS 13.3K

88.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TZS 3,861

$0.74 TZS 1,933

98.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,565

$1.51 TZS 3,962

-9.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

$0.31 TZS 822

-6.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.35 TZS 21.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 TZS 9,812

$1.61 TZS 4,220

131.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,949

$0.59 TZS 1,544

25.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 TZS 6,764

$13.41 TZS 35.3K

-80.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,136

$0.79 TZS 2,078

50.63%

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

$16.6K TZS 43.7M

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

$49.9K TZS 131.3M

$26.3K TZS 69.1M

90.05%

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

$72.8 TZS 191.4K

$56.0 TZS 147.2K

29.99%

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

$11.55 TZS 30.4K

$9.04 TZS 23.8K

27.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.94 TZS 128.7K

$34.42 TZS 90.5K

42.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 TZS 77.5K

$11.54 TZS 30.3K

155.46%

Cinema Ticket

$9.43 TZS 24.8K

$4.95 TZS 13.0K

90.51%

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

$579 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,591 TZS 20.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.94 TZS 34.0K

$7.60 TZS 20.0K

70.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.89 TZS 44.4K

$26.34 TZS 69.3K

-35.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.29 TZS 40.2K

$44.66 TZS 117.4K

-65.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.49 TZS 35.5K

$18.60 TZS 48.9K

-27.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 TZS 387.6K

$75.0 TZS 197.3K

96.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 TZS 523.4K

$191 TZS 503.4K

3.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 395.6K

$94.4 TZS 248.3K

59.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.2K TZS 97.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.1K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 TZS 825.8K

$309 TZS 811.2K

1.80%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Morogoro: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $147 in Zanzibar versus $75.0 in Morogoro. 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 2% higher in Zanzibar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $19.00 in Morogoro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $124 – making Morogoro 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 Morogoro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zanzibar costs about 51% more than Morogoro, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $860 per month in Zanzibar and $570 in Morogoro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Morogoro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $574 in Zanzibar and $380 in Morogoro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Zanzibar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $574 in Zanzibar and $380 in Morogoro, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Morogoro – 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 Morogoro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zanzibar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.