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: $451 in Zanzibar versus $341 in Njombe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $702 in Zanzibar versus $510 in Njombe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $954 in Zanzibar versus $680 in Njombe.

Living in Zanzibar is roughly 32% more expensive than Njombe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zanzibar 66% lower, Njombe 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$1.01 TZS 2,604

75.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.60 TZS 1,557

23.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$0.93 TZS 2,406

-6.45%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$1.37 TZS 3,535

109.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$3.85 TZS 9,924

-40.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$3.05 TZS 7,878

55.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$1.59 TZS 4,106

83.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$1.73 TZS 4,459

-34.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$1.81 TZS 4,669

-58.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$0.97 TZS 2,511

-39.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$1.37 TZS 3,540

-32.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$2.48 TZS 6,403

-36.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.37 TZS 961

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.38 TZS 974

21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$1.77 TZS 4,557

19.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$1.88 TZS 4,846

407.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$1.37 TZS 3,542

27.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$2.07 TZS 5,334

-36.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.26 TZS 667

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.36 TZS 52.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 TZS 4,071

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 TZS 2,882

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$5.68 TZS 14.7K

-51.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.27 TZS 3,263

-5.51%

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

$18.6K TZS 48.0M

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

$11.8K TZS 30.5M

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

$21.57 TZS 55.6K

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$15.20 TZS 39.2K

-31.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$57.9 TZS 149.3K

-60.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$22.78 TZS 58.8K

-6.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.51 TZS 19.4K

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$3.94 TZS 10.2K

139.09%

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

$325 TZS 837.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$15.55 TZS 40.1K

-14.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$20.90 TZS 53.9K

-16.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$17.12 TZS 44.2K

-10.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$15.59 TZS 40.2K

-11.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$118 TZS 304.5K

25.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$38.33 TZS 98.9K

158.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$190 TZS 489.1K

6.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$114 TZS 294.7K

30.98%

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

$262 TZS 676.0K

23.44%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Njombe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $148 in Zanzibar and $118 in Njombe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zanzibar pays 23% 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 32% in total monthly costs ($451 vs $341 including rent). Njombe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Zanzibar pays 23% more on average, 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: $148 in Zanzibar versus $118 in Njombe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Zanzibar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $451 per month in Zanzibar versus $341 in Njombe – a 32% 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 32% less than in Zanzibar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.