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: $581 in Zanzibar versus $336 in Njombe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $872 in Zanzibar versus $516 in Njombe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,163 in Zanzibar versus $696 in Njombe.

Living in Zanzibar is roughly 73% more expensive than in Njombe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zanzibar 58% lower, Njombe 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,067

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TZS 5,438

$0.96 TZS 2,525

115.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,978

$0.59 TZS 1,548

27.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,251

$0.98 TZS 2,578

-12.24%

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,052

$1.38 TZS 3,637

94.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

$3.76 TZS 9,875

-39.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

$3.05 TZS 8,009

99.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

$1.54 TZS 4,054

89.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

$1.75 TZS 4,596

-36.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$1.78 TZS 4,670

-58.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

$2.14 TZS 5,613

-72.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,565

$1.36 TZS 3,574

-27.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 TZS 4,079

$2.41 TZS 6,333

-35.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$0.40 TZS 1,047

85.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 TZS 1,269

$0.40 TZS 1,046

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

$1.68 TZS 4,426

29.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

$1.88 TZS 4,941

410.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

$1.31 TZS 3,438

18.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

$2.07 TZS 5,439

-34.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

$0.27 TZS 715

7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.71 TZS 51.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

$1.47 TZS 3,864

159.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$1.10 TZS 2,894

-32.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

$5.61 TZS 14.7K

-53.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,039

$1.23 TZS 3,228

-5.69%

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

$17.8K TZS 46.8M

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

$11.2K TZS 29.6M

337.26%

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

$20.40 TZS 53.6K

261.42%

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

$15.27 TZS 40.2K

-24.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

$56.6 TZS 148.9K

-13.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

$22.60 TZS 59.4K

31.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 TZS 19.4K

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$3.70 TZS 9,738

161.08%

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

$315 TZS 828.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$15.27 TZS 40.2K

-14.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

$20.84 TZS 54.8K

-19.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

$16.93 TZS 44.5K

-9.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

$14.97 TZS 39.4K

-13.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

$114 TZS 300.0K

31.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

$37.47 TZS 98.5K

168.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

$192 TZS 504.1K

6.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

$112 TZS 293.7K

33.62%

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

$256 TZS 672.3K

22.11%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Njombe: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $150 in Zanzibar and $114 in Njombe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zanzibar pays 22% 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 73% in total monthly costs ($581 vs $336 including rent). Njombe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 22% 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: $150 in Zanzibar versus $114 in Njombe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Zanzibar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $581 per month in Zanzibar versus $336 in Njombe – a 73% 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 73% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.