Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Mwanza Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Mwanza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $146 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $218 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $290 in Mwanza, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 209% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Mwanza 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$2.56 TZS 6,605

90.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$15.20 TZS 39.2K

47.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$4.61 TZS 11.9K

26.46%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$2.65 TZS 6,825

-17.74%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.30 TZS 784

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.30 TZS 781

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$0.96 TZS 2,471

102.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$1.34 TZS 3,443

106.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

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

$67.5 TZS 174.1K

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

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

$188 TZS 484.7K

72.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 72% 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 $15.00 in Mwanza. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Mwanza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zanzibar is pricier by about 209%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Zanzibar and $219 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $451 in Zanzibar and $146 in Mwanza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar and $15.00 in Mwanza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $451 in Zanzibar and $146 in Mwanza, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mwanza – 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 Mwanza. 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.