Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Moshi

For one person, living is cheaper in Moshi: $247 a month against $582 in Zanzibar, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Zanzibar
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Zanzibar Living Index

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Zanzibar

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$582

/mo nomad

Moshi

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$247

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Zanzibar and in Moshi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Zanzibar and in Moshi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $582 per month in Zanzibar vs $247 in Moshi, rent included.

Zanzibar $582
Moshi $247

A couple spends around $866 per month in Zanzibar vs $427 in Moshi, rent included.

Zanzibar $866
Moshi $427

A family of three spends $1,150 per month in Zanzibar vs $607 in Moshi, rent included.

Zanzibar $1,150
Moshi $607

Zanzibar costs about 136% more than Moshi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.65 TZS 12.2K

$2.96 TZS 7,795

57.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.37 TZS 56.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.81 TZS 15.3K

Cappuccino

$2.23 TZS 5,884

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

$0.62 TZS 1,643

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 875

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 TZS 4,868

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,090

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 TZS 5,346

$0.56 TZS 1,473

262.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 2,025

$0.78 TZS 2,049

-1.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,073

$1.28 TZS 3,385

-38.28%

Eggs

$2.79 TZS 7,363

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.49 TZS 19.7K

$8.45 TZS 22.3K

-11.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.30 TZS 6,068

$3.89 TZS 10.2K

-40.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.22 TZS 16.4K

$3.09 TZS 8,136

101.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 TZS 7,329

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 TZS 3,066

$0.40 TZS 1,042

190.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,966

$1.47 TZS 3,877

-48.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,550

$0.80 TZS 2,101

-26.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,477

$0.74 TZS 1,949

27.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 TZS 3,879

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 TZS 1,926

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 TZS 1,177

$0.40 TZS 1,043

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,705

Wine (Bottle)

$9.39 TZS 24.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 TZS 4,030

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 TZS 3,436

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 TZS 826

$0.80 TZS 2,102

-61.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.80 TZS 10.0K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,945

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 TZS 7,124

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 TZS 3,338

$1.19 TZS 3,130

6.72%

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

$50.3K TZS 132.7M

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

$73.0 TZS 192.2K

$116 TZS 304.5K

-36.87%

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

$11.14 TZS 29.4K

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

187.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.10 TZS 129.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.01 TZS 76.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.86 TZS 33.9K

$18.84 TZS 49.6K

-31.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.32 TZS 45.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.28 TZS 40.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.18 TZS 34.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 TZS 398.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 265.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 TZS 519.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 TZS 388.0K

$189 TZS 498.2K

-22.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.2K TZS 100.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K TZS 29.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 TZS 826.3K

$94.0 TZS 247.6K

233.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: November 1, 2026

Last update for Moshi: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Zanzibar

$165 28.3%

Moshi

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Zanzibar

$133 22.9%

Moshi

–

Accommodation & Living

Zanzibar

$101 17.3%

Moshi

–

Eating Out

Zanzibar

$100 17.2%

Moshi

–

Sport & Entertainment

Zanzibar

$48 8.3%

Moshi

–

Clothing & Footwear

Zanzibar

$26 4.5%

Moshi

–

Getting Around

Zanzibar

$8.8 * 1.5%

Moshi

–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Zanzibar are about 3.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇹🇿 Zanzibar

🇹🇿 Moshi

🕒 Local time

01:09 1:09 AM

Same time as Zanzibar

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

709,809

221,733

💱 Currency

Tanzanian Shilling TZS Sh

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.38 EUR

10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.38 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Zanzibar Moshi 380 km

From you

Zanzibar
Moshi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 136%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $873 per month in Zanzibar and $370 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $582 in Zanzibar and $247 in Moshi. That makes Moshi about 58% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Zanzibar, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $582 in Zanzibar and $247 in Moshi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Zanzibar has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $247 in Moshi to $582 in Zanzibar. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Moshi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zanzibar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.