Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $451 in Zanzibar versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $702 in Zanzibar versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $954 in Zanzibar versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Zanzibar costs roughly 64% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zanzibar 66% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$4.70 ฿153

3.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$45.37 ฿1,482

-50.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$8.43 ฿275

-30.84%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$2.93 ฿95.6

-25.60%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.69 ฿22.40

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.37 ฿11.99

-16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$2.41 ฿78.6

-19.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$3.72 ฿122

-25.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$2.23 ฿72.9

-20.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$1.83 ฿59.8

-59.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$2.17 ฿70.8

-59.91%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$2.21 ฿72.3

29.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$3.63 ฿119

-37.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$13.53 ฿442

-64.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$3.28 ฿107

-10.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$1.61 ฿52.6

-29.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$2.41 ฿78.6

-68.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$2.08 ฿68.1

-71.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$1.53 ฿49.93

-39.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$1.48 ฿48.36

6.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.99 ฿32.29

-25.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.51 ฿16.67

-9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$4.41 ฿144

-52.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$19.38 ฿633

-50.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$1.78 ฿58.1

-1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$2.71 ฿88.6

-51.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$1.37 ฿44.79

-52.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$14.10 ฿461

-80.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.36 ฿44.51

-11.76%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$13.57 ฿443

-22.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$18.31 ฿598

24.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$60.2 ฿1,967

-64.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$8.69 ฿284

8.40%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$59.5 ฿1,944

-77.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$34.77 ฿1,136

-49.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$115 ฿3,743

-86.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$83.3 ฿2,720

-83.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$613 ฿20.0K

-75.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$437 ฿14.3K

-77.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-90.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-90.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

$3,749 ฿122.5K

926.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

$2,616 ฿85.4K

334.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

$508 ฿16.6K

-36.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

87.62%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $148 in Zanzibar and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 57% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Zanzibar vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $138 vs $293 per month, with Zanzibar cheaper across the board.

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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zanzibar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 181% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Phuket earns 57% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $148 in Zanzibar versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 112% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Zanzibar – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $451 in Zanzibar versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zanzibar but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Zanzibar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Zanzibar is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Zanzibar and Phuket 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 Zanzibar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 181% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.