Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Songea Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Songea

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.78 TZS 12.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.74 TZS 57.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 TZS 14.5K

Cappuccino

$2.21 TZS 5,810

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

$0.60 TZS 1,568

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 874

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 TZS 4,999

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 TZS 7,135

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 TZS 5,357

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 TZS 1,902

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 TZS 2,185

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,044

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 TZS 19.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.21 TZS 5,803

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.12 TZS 16.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 TZS 7,493

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,918

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,556

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,581

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 TZS 3,871

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 TZS 1,960

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 TZS 1,283

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 TZS 5,403

Wine (Bottle)

$9.28 TZS 24.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 TZS 4,043

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,428

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 TZS 817

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 TZS 9,701

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 TZS 2,073

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,862

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 TZS 3,339

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

$48.8K TZS 128.0M

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

$73.3 TZS 192.4K

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

$11.35 TZS 29.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.97 TZS 131.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.66 TZS 77.8K

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.93 TZS 33.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.28 TZS 45.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.25 TZS 40.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.08 TZS 34.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 389.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 259.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 TZS 528.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.6K TZS 98.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$313 TZS 820.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: October 5, 2026

Last update for Songea: October 6, 2026

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 Songea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

It comes down to priorities – Songea wins on affordability, Zanzibar on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.