Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Moshi Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Moshi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $436 per month in Zanzibar vs $243 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $701 per month in Zanzibar vs $425 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $966 per month in Zanzibar vs $606 in Moshi, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 79% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zanzibar and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 67% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 TZS 12.2K

$3.08 TZS 7,970

52.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.17 TZS 57.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 TZS 14.9K

Cappuccino

$2.24 TZS 5,805

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

$0.59 TZS 1,539

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 863

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 TZS 5,052

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 TZS 6,927

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 TZS 4,634

$0.57 TZS 1,465

214.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 TZS 1,851

$0.73 TZS 1,897

-2.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 TZS 2,125

$1.36 TZS 3,522

-39.71%

Eggs

$2.98 TZS 7,709

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 TZS 22.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.39 TZS 6,181

$3.77 TZS 9,767

-36.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.62 TZS 12.0K

$3.16 TZS 8,174

46.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 TZS 7,594

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,921

$0.40 TZS 1,046

182.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,950

$1.54 TZS 3,980

-51.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 TZS 1,472

$0.74 TZS 1,920

-22.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,463

$0.80 TZS 2,079

18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 TZS 3,935

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 TZS 1,951

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,282

$0.40 TZS 1,043

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.10 TZS 5,433

Wine (Bottle)

$9.85 TZS 25.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 TZS 4,430

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 TZS 3,414

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 TZS 1,650

$0.40 TZS 1,045

60.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 TZS 7,075

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 2,996

$1.23 TZS 3,178

-5.69%

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

$116 TZS 299.7K

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

$10.43 TZS 27.0K

$3.85 TZS 9,978

170.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.04 TZS 59.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.69 TZS 56.1K

Cinema Ticket

$9.53 TZS 24.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.55 TZS 35.1K

$19.54 TZS 50.6K

-30.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.57 TZS 45.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.76 TZS 40.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.29 TZS 34.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 TZS 380.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.7 TZS 258.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 TZS 513.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 TZS 390.2K

$190 TZS 491.0K

-20.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.7K TZS 97.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$317 TZS 819.9K

$97.9 TZS 253.5K

223.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: April 26, 2026

Last update for Moshi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 223% higher in Zanzibar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Moshi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zanzibar is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $655 per month in Zanzibar and $365 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $436 in Zanzibar and $243 in Moshi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Zanzibar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $436 in Zanzibar and $243 in Moshi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Moshi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Moshi. 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.