Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Tehran Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Tehran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $581 per month in Zanzibar vs $615 in Tehran, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,038 in Tehran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,163 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,462 in Tehran, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 5% cheaper than Tehran, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zanzibar and Tehran are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 58% lower, Tehran 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

$3.41 $3.41

37.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

$16.42 $16.42

32.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

$3.94 $3.94

39.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 $0.96

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

$1.34 $1.34

58.96%

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

$0.50 $0.50

26.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

$1.65 $1.65

-81.21%

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

$0.67 $0.67

208.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,978

$0.57 $0.57

31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,251

$3.48 $3.48

-75.29%

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,052

$1.29 $1.29

107.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

$4.22 $4.22

81.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

$3.25 $3.25

-30.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

$9.80 $9.80

-38.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

$1.27 $1.27

129.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

$1.78 $1.78

-37.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$1.14 $1.14

-35.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

$0.67 $0.67

-13.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,565

$0.55 $0.55

78.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 TZS 4,079

$0.51 $0.51

203.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$0.56 $0.56

32.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 TZS 1,269

$0.31 $0.31

54.84%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

$2.43 $2.43

-10.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

$0.10 $0.10

190.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.37 $5.37

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

$0.52 $0.52

632.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$0.31 $0.31

138.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

$2.95 $2.95

-11.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,039

$0.08 $0.08

1350.00%

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

$50.4K $50.4K

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

$43.7K $43.7K

12.57%

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

$13.57 $13.57

443.33%

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

$1.61 $1.61

614.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

$3.78 $3.78

1188.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

$24.67 $24.67

20.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.41 $13.41

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$1.99 $1.99

385.43%

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

$108 $108

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,611 $2,611

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$26.47 $26.47

-50.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

$37.04 $37.04

-54.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

$107 $107

-85.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

$75.4 $75.4

-82.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

$419 $419

-64.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

$254 $254

-60.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

$988 $988

-79.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

$611 $611

-75.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

$1,274 $1,274

2846.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

$720 $720

1505.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 TZS 820.9K

$219 $219

42.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.42

-57.30%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tehran: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $150 in Zanzibar versus $419 in Tehran. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 43% higher in Zanzibar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $16.00 in Tehran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $123 – making Tehran the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $871 per month in Zanzibar and $922 in Tehran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 35% cheaper in Tehran – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar and $16.00 in Tehran. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $581 in Zanzibar and $615 in Tehran, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Zanzibar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tehran makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.