Zanzibar, Tanzania

Can I live in Zanzibar on $2,000/month?

Zanzibar has the potential to be an excellent digital nomad and retiree destination. It’s a tropical paradise with some of the world’s best beaches. There is excellent food. You can find an incredible mix of Indian, Middle Eastern, European, and African cuisine along with some phenomenal seafood.

It would be possible to live a comfortable life here on less than $2,000 per month, with all expenses included. You could rent a decent 1-bedroom apartment for $400-$500 per month. You could get by on much less if you're willing to sacrifice some comfort. You could rent a cheap room for $150 per month. Zanzibar could also get very expensive if you wanted to rent a beach villa and eat out every day.

Zanzibar is also a unique destination for those who want a bit of an adventure. Africa still isn't popular among digital nomads and expats. If you want something a bit different, Zanzibar is worth considering.

Even though Zanzibar is a major tourist destination, it is still a bit rough around the edges. Power outages are common. Zanzibar is also a Muslim-majority island so it may be a bit more conservative than you would expect for a beach destination. The pace of life here is also pretty slow. The main transport is shared minibuses (dala-dalas) and motorcycle taxis (boda-bodas). This makes getting around kind of uncomfortable and dangerous.

One nice thing is that mobile money is widely accepted in Zanzibar. This makes paying for everything really smooth and easy. You don't have to worry about getting change or dealing with multiple payment methods. Vodacom M-Pesa is the most common. You can get a SIM card when you arrive and send yourself money.

Starting numbers checked September 2026. Every line below is editable. The estimates include often-forgotten costs like flights home and visas, plus what you lose moving money into TZS. The calculator will show you your true monthly burn rate as well as your adjusted exchange rate.

Zanzibar cost of living breakdown

The figures the calculator starts with plus some notes. Everything here is an estimate you should change for your situation.

Monthly cost of living estimates for Zanzibar, Tanzania, in USD
Expense	Starting estimate	Per month
Everyday costs		$1,040/mo
Rent	$400/mo	$400
You could rent a decent one-bedroom apartment for around $300-$500 per month. It probably won't be right on the beach for that price but it will be close. In more touristy areas like Paje or Nungwi, you might need to spend closer to $600-$700 for a one-bedroom. In Stone Town, you could rent a decent apartment for $400-$600. If you were on an extremely tight budget, it would be possible to find something further inland in a more local area for $200-$300.
Utilities	$40/mo	$40
Food	$300/mo	$300
On average, expect to spend around $300-$350 per month on food. On this budget, you can buy a mix of imported and local foods, enjoy some street food, and eat out at nicer restaurants a few times per month. If you're on a tight budget, it would be possible to eat for $150-$200 per month if you maintain a diet of local food. If you want to eat out every day, expect to spend closer to $400-$500 per month on food. A meal in a mid-range restaurant costs around $15-$20. You can enjoy a street food meal for $2-$5.
Transport	$40/mo	$40
A ride on a shared minibus costs around 1,000-3,000 TZS (about $0.38-$1.14).
Phone & internet	$40/mo	$40
A phone bill costs around 25,000 TZS (about $10). An internet bill will cost around $20-$30, depending on the speed you choose.
Health (local)	$70/mo	$70
Entertainment	$150/mo	$150
Easy to forget		$512/mo
Flights homeHolidays, family visits	$1,600/yr	$133
Flights to and from Zanzibar are pretty expensive. This is one of the biggest drawbacks to living in Africa as an expat. If you want to fly home every year, you'll have to spend around $1,500-$1,800 in airfare if you're flying to North America. If you're flying to Europe, the cost will be much lower.
In-country tripsWeekends, nearby cities	$600/yr	$50
Because Zanzibar is an island, it makes weekend trips a bit more challenging. You can't just hop on a bus. You could visit a different part of the island. If you're staying in Stone Town, you could visit Nungwi or Paje to go to the beach or party. There are some other islands you could also visit, like Pemba Island. If you want to visit a big city, you could take the ferry to Dar es Salaam. You could catch a flight to Arusha and go on a safari.
Visa / border runsPermits, overstays	$100/yr	$8
A one-year tourist visa for Tanzania costs $100. You must leave the country every 90 days and re-enter. There are also long-term visa options available if you plan to make a more permanent move but the requirements are stricter.
Travel insurance	$50/mo	$50
Phone, laptop, clothes	$600/yr	$50
Laundry / cleaning help	$20/mo	$20
Medical bufferClinics, meds insurance skips	$50/mo	$50
Emergency fund	$100/mo	$100
SubscriptionsStreaming, iCloud, software	$30/mo	$30
Home SIM for 2FA	$20/mo	$20
Bad-week buffer, 10% on top		$155
Cost of moving money in via Wise		$12
True monthly burn in Zanzibar		$1,719

That is about 4,537,582 TZS a month at roughly 2,640 TZS to 1 USD; the calculator above uses the live rate. On $2,000 a month you would keep $281, and $10,000 of savings would last 5.8 months with no income. 5 more expenses are switched off by default. Turn on the ones that apply to you.

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Zanzibar cost of living breakdown

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