Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Njombe Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Njombe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $439 in Zanzibar versus $343 in Njombe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $701 in Zanzibar versus $524 in Njombe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $962 in Zanzibar versus $705 in Njombe.

Living in Zanzibar is roughly 28% more expensive than in Njombe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zanzibar 67% lower, Njombe 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 TZS 4,452

$0.96 TZS 2,510

77.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,921

$0.55 TZS 1,452

32.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,292

$0.95 TZS 2,482

-8.42%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,534

$1.38 TZS 3,614

107.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

$3.92 TZS 10.3K

-39.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

$3.01 TZS 7,897

58.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

$1.51 TZS 3,960

94.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

$1.70 TZS 4,468

-30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

$1.90 TZS 4,983

-57.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,471

$0.98 TZS 2,560

-42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$1.31 TZS 3,450

-28.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,946

$2.53 TZS 6,631

-40.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

$0.41 TZS 1,073

92.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,311

$0.37 TZS 976

35.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

$1.71 TZS 4,488

18.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

$1.88 TZS 4,930

413.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

$1.32 TZS 3,466

35.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

$2.16 TZS 5,676

-39.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

$0.26 TZS 681

142.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.36 TZS 53.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 TZS 4,008

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 TZS 3,077

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

$5.88 TZS 15.4K

-52.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,036

$1.25 TZS 3,284

-7.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.3K TZS 47.9M

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

$11.4K TZS 30.0M

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

$20.93 TZS 54.9K

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

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

$15.20 TZS 39.9K

-31.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

$57.2 TZS 150.0K

-59.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

$23.08 TZS 60.6K

-8.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.58 TZS 19.9K

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

$3.90 TZS 10.2K

148.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$333 TZS 873.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

$15.33 TZS 40.2K

-12.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

$21.54 TZS 56.5K

-17.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

$17.47 TZS 45.9K

-13.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

$15.60 TZS 40.9K

-11.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

$115 TZS 301.7K

29.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

$38.96 TZS 102.2K

160.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

$193 TZS 506.0K

4.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

$115 TZS 301.9K

29.99%

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

$260 TZS 682.9K

21.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-16.67%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Njombe: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $149 in Zanzibar and $115 in Njombe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zanzibar pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Njombe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zanzibar and Njombe differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($439 vs $343 including rent). Njombe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 21% higher in Zanzibar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $149 in Zanzibar versus $115 in Njombe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Zanzibar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $439 per month in Zanzibar versus $343 in Njombe – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Njombe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Zanzibar and Njombe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Njombe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.