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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $440 in Morogoro, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $710 in Morogoro, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $979 in Morogoro, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 2% more than Morogoro, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zanzibar and Morogoro are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Morogoro 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$2.75 TZS 7,082

77.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

13.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$7.63 TZS 19.7K

-23.59%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$2.01 TZS 5,172

8.46%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.39 TZS 998

53.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.22 TZS 564

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$1.04 TZS 2,687

86.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$1.95 TZS 5,038

42.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$0.77 TZS 1,990

129.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.38 TZS 976

94.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$1.01 TZS 2,601

-13.86%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$1.84 TZS 4,748

55.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$4.56 TZS 11.8K

-50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$3.83 TZS 9,875

24.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$1.14 TZS 2,936

156.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$0.61 TZS 1,560

85.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$0.57 TZS 1,462

31.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$0.37 TZS 957

59.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$0.80 TZS 2,072

16.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$0.59 TZS 1,527

167.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.89 TZS 2,287

-16.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.28 TZS 729

64.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$1.53 TZS 3,957

37.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$5.08 TZS 13.1K

87.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$0.76 TZS 1,948

130.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$1.62 TZS 4,178

-19.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.30 TZS 768

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.18 TZS 21.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 TZS 3,830

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 TZS 1,428

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$13.55 TZS 34.9K

-79.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$0.75 TZS 1,933

60.00%

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

$17.1K TZS 44.0M

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

$17.5K TZS 45.0M

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

$95.7 TZS 246.7K

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$10.72 TZS 27.7K

-2.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$32.53 TZS 83.9K

-30.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$11.76 TZS 30.3K

80.61%

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$4.92 TZS 12.7K

91.46%

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

$251 TZS 648.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,653 TZS 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$7.74 TZS 20.0K

71.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$41.76 TZS 107.7K

-58.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$45.88 TZS 118.3K

-66.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$19.47 TZS 50.2K

-29.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$78.4 TZS 202.3K

89.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$191 TZS 491.6K

5.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$97.6 TZS 251.7K

53.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

$307 TZS 791.4K

5.45%

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 Morogoro: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Zanzibar versus $78.4 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 5% 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 $20.00 in Morogoro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $138 vs $126 – 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 2% more than Morogoro, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Zanzibar and $660 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 $451 in Zanzibar and $440 in Morogoro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $451 in Zanzibar and $440 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.