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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $590 per month in Zanzibar vs $240 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $870 per month in Zanzibar vs $416 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,151 per month in Zanzibar vs $591 in Moshi, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 146% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zanzibar and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 57% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

$2.97 TZS 7,796

58.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.55 TZS 56.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 TZS 14.9K

Cappuccino

$2.11 TZS 5,553

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

$0.58 TZS 1,520

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 TZS 777

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,070

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 TZS 7,168

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 TZS 5,517

$0.59 TZS 1,559

255.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 2,021

$0.72 TZS 1,901

6.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,102

$1.30 TZS 3,413

-38.46%

Eggs

$2.69 TZS 7,063

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.70 TZS 20.2K

$8.26 TZS 21.7K

-6.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.20 TZS 5,793

$3.76 TZS 9,894

-41.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.00 TZS 15.8K

$3.11 TZS 8,177

92.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 TZS 7,587

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 TZS 3,045

$0.37 TZS 961

213.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 TZS 1,930

$1.48 TZS 3,894

-50.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 TZS 1,433

$0.79 TZS 2,072

-30.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,522

$0.73 TZS 1,920

31.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 TZS 3,929

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,947

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 TZS 1,191

$0.36 TZS 952

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 TZS 5,483

Wine (Bottle)

$9.32 TZS 24.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TZS 3,862

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 TZS 3,548

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 TZS 818

$0.78 TZS 2,044

-60.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 TZS 9,701

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 TZS 1,909

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 TZS 7,010

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 TZS 2,994

$1.24 TZS 3,250

-8.06%

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

$50.2K TZS 132.0M

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

$73.2 TZS 192.4K

$115 TZS 303.4K

-36.60%

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

$11.39 TZS 29.9K

$3.86 TZS 10.1K

195.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.19 TZS 126.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.71 TZS 75.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 TZS 24.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.96 TZS 34.1K

$18.65 TZS 49.0K

-30.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.70 TZS 43.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$14.94 TZS 39.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.38 TZS 35.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 387.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 265.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 532.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 TZS 400.0K

$187 TZS 492.7K

-18.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.2K TZS 97.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K TZS 29.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$310 TZS 814.5K

$95.8 TZS 252.0K

223.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: September 15, 2026

Last update for Moshi: September 12, 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 146%, 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 $885 per month in Zanzibar and $360 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $590 in Zanzibar and $240 in Moshi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 83% 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 $590 in Zanzibar and $240 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.