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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $581 per month in Zanzibar vs $189 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Zanzibar vs $293 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,163 per month in Zanzibar vs $397 in Mwanza, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 207% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 58% lower, Mwanza 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

$2.39 TZS 6,275

96.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

$15.23 TZS 40.0K

42.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

$4.55 TZS 12.0K

20.88%

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

$2.67 TZS 7,007

-20.22%

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

$0.27 TZS 708

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,067

$0.98 TZS 2,588

96.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

$1.34 TZS 3,530

92.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TZS 5,438

$0.91 TZS 2,388

127.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,978

$1.48 TZS 3,889

-49.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,251

$0.96 TZS 2,530

-10.42%

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,052

$2.13 TZS 5,609

25.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,565

$0.95 TZS 2,500

3.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 TZS 4,079

$1.29 TZS 3,402

20.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 TZS 1,269

$0.36 TZS 959

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,039

$1.58 TZS 4,154

-26.58%

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

$67.0 TZS 176.2K

10.04%

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 TZS 820.9K

$190 TZS 500.4K

64.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 64% 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. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $46.00 – making Mwanza the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 207%, 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 $871 per month in Zanzibar and $284 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 261% more in Zanzibar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

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 $581 in Zanzibar and $189 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.