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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $439 per month in Zanzibar vs $145 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $701 per month in Zanzibar vs $220 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $962 per month in Zanzibar vs $294 in Mwanza, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 202% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 67% lower, Mwanza 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

$2.55 TZS 6,685

87.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

$15.29 TZS 40.1K

45.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

$4.72 TZS 12.4K

23.73%

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

$2.77 TZS 7,259

-18.05%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

$0.28 TZS 724

114.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

$0.28 TZS 735

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

$1.00 TZS 2,625

90.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

$1.37 TZS 3,584

96.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 TZS 4,452

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,921

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,292

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,534

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,471

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,946

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,311

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,036

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

$68.2 TZS 179.0K

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

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$316 TZS 829.5K

$187 TZS 491.6K

68.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 69% 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 202%, 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 $659 per month in Zanzibar and $218 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $439 in Zanzibar and $145 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 $439 in Zanzibar and $145 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.