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We constantly update this blog post so the rent figures for Zanzibar stay useful, fresh and close to what landlords and tenants see on the ground.
In 2026, the rental market in Zanzibar is not one single market, because local apartments, expat homes and beach-area rentals can have very different prices.
This guide focuses only on residential property in Zanzibar, with simple rent ranges for apartments, houses, neighborhoods, tenants, taxes and landlord costs.
And if you’re planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Zanzibar.
Fact-checked and reviewed by our local expert
Grace Makoye 🇹🇿
Manager of Operations, Zinza Real Estate
What are typical rents in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of June 2026, a normal long-term residential rent in Zanzibar is usually around TZS 1.2 million to TZS 3.5 million per month, or about $460 to $1,340 and about €420 to €1,230.
For a well-furnished family house or a beach-area home in Zanzibar in 2026, a more realistic range is TZS 4 million to TZS 8 million per month, or about $1,530 to $3,050 and about €1,400 to €2,800.
The wide gap exists because Stone Town, Fumba, Mbweni, Paje, Jambiani, Nungwi and Kendwa attract more foreign, tourism-linked and furnished-rental demand than purely local neighborhoods.
What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average monthly rent for a decent studio in Zanzibar is about TZS 1.25 million, or about $475 and €440.
A realistic monthly rent range for most studios in Zanzibar is TZS 800,000 to TZS 2.2 million, or about $305 to $840 and €280 to €770.
The cheapest Zanzibar studios are usually simple local units around Kisauni, Tunguu or inland Mjini areas, while furnished studios in Stone Town, Fumba and beach locations cost more because tenants pay extra for location, furniture, air conditioning and comfort.
What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Zanzibar is about TZS 1.8 million, or about $690 and €630.
A realistic monthly rent range for most 1-bedroom apartments in Zanzibar is TZS 1.2 million to TZS 2.8 million, or about $460 to $1,070 and €420 to €980.
Cheaper 1-bedroom rents in Zanzibar are usually found in Kisauni, Chukwani and inland parts of Mjini Magharibi, while Stone Town, Malindi, Mkunazini and Fumba are usually more expensive when the apartment is furnished and has air conditioning.
What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Zanzibar is about TZS 2.8 million, or about $1,070 and €980.
A realistic monthly rent range for most 2-bedroom apartments in Zanzibar is TZS 1.5 million to TZS 5 million, or about $570 to $1,910 and €530 to €1,750.
The cheapest 2-bedroom rents in Zanzibar are more likely in Kisauni, Chukwani, Maungani and inland Mjini areas, while the most expensive 2-bedroom rents are usually in Fumba, Stone Town, Malindi, Mbweni and beach-side areas such as Paje or Nungwi.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Zanzibar.
What's the average rent per square meter in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average residential rent in Zanzibar is about TZS 35,000 per square meter per month, or about $13 and €12 per square meter.
A realistic rent per square meter range in Zanzibar is about TZS 15,000 to TZS 70,000 per month, or about $6 to $27 and €5 to €25, depending on location, furnishing and property quality.
Compared with many mainland Tanzania neighborhoods, Zanzibar has higher rents per square meter in tourist and expat areas, but simple local apartments in inland Zanzibar can still be cheaper than prime Dar es Salaam neighborhoods.
In Zanzibar, rent per square meter usually rises above average when the apartment is furnished, close to the sea, close to Stone Town or Fumba, has air conditioning, has reliable internet and includes backup power.
How much have rents changed year-over-year in Zanzibar in 2026?
As of 2026, average residential rents in Zanzibar are likely up about 8% to 12% year over year for good furnished units and about 5% to 8% for ordinary local apartments.
The main reason rents in Zanzibar increased in 2026 is that tourism, foreign workers, digital nomads and local population growth are all competing for a limited number of good long-term rentals.
Compared with the previous year, rent growth in Zanzibar in 2026 looks stronger in Fumba, Stone Town, Paje, Jambiani, Nungwi and Kendwa, while purely local areas have moved closer to general inflation.
What's the outlook for rent growth in Zanzibar in 2026?
As of 2026, the projected rent growth for Zanzibar for the rest of the year is about 3% to 5%, which would put full-year growth near 8% to 12% for good long-term rentals.
The key forces behind rent growth in Zanzibar are tourism recovery, population growth, demand for furnished homes, limited quality supply and tenants wanting reliable power, internet and air conditioning.
The neighborhoods most likely to see stronger rent growth in Zanzibar are Fumba, Stone Town, Mbweni, Chukwani, Paje, Jambiani, Nungwi and Kendwa.
The main risks are overpricing, weak tourism, exchange-rate pressure, too many short-stay-style listings and new supply that may reduce pressure in some expensive pockets.
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Which neighborhoods rent best in Zanzibar as of 2026?
The best-renting neighborhoods in Zanzibar in 2026 are not always the cheapest or the most beautiful, because the best rental areas combine demand, access, safety, services and a tenant group that can pay consistently.
Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, the top high-rent areas in Zanzibar are Nungwi and Kendwa at about TZS 4 million to TZS 8 million per month, Fumba at about TZS 2.5 million to TZS 5 million, and Stone Town or Malindi at about TZS 2 million to TZS 5 million, or roughly $760 to $3,050 and €700 to €2,800 across these premium areas.
These Zanzibar neighborhoods command premium rents because they offer beach access, walkability, expat comfort, tourism demand, security, services or better-quality housing than the normal local stock.
The tenants in these high-rent Zanzibar neighborhoods are usually expats, NGO staff, hospitality managers, digital nomads, business owners, diplomats and higher-income local families.
By the way, we’ve written a blog article detailing Sources and methodology: we compared neighborhood rent evidence from Jiji Tanzania, ZNZ Apartments and Rentberry. We checked whether each area had a clear demand driver like beach tourism, airport access or expat housing. We then ranked areas using our own Zanzibar neighborhood rent analysis.
Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Zanzibar right now?
The top neighborhoods for young professionals renting in Zanzibar are Stone Town, Malindi and Kisauni, with Chukwani and Fumba also popular for tenants who need airport access or newer housing.
Young professionals in these Zanzibar neighborhoods usually pay about TZS 1.2 million to TZS 3 million per month, or about $460 to $1,150 and €420 to €1,050.
These areas attract young professionals because Stone Town and Malindi offer restaurants, offices, ferries and nightlife, while Kisauni, Chukwani and Fumba offer airport access, better roads and newer rental options.
By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Zanzibar.
Where do families prefer to rent in Zanzibar right now?
The top family-friendly rental areas in Zanzibar are Mbweni, Fumba Town and Chukwani, with Mazizini, Bububu and Tunguu also useful for families who want more space or lower rents.
Families in these Zanzibar areas usually pay about TZS 2.5 million to TZS 6 million per month for 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom homes, or about $950 to $2,290 and €880 to €2,100.
Families like these Zanzibar neighborhoods because they offer larger homes, parking, quieter streets, easier airport access, better security and more practical daily living than dense central areas.
Useful education options near these family areas include SUZA campuses around Tunguu, Vuga and Beit-el-Ras, plus private and international-style schools around Mjini Magharibi and the airport-side residential belt.
Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Zanzibar in 2026?
As of 2026, the fastest-renting transit and university-linked areas in Zanzibar are Darajani and Stone Town, Kisauni and Chukwani, and Tunguu or Vuga near SUZA activity.
Good rental properties in these high-demand Zanzibar areas usually stay listed for about 15 to 30 days if the price is realistic and the unit is clean, furnished or well located.
Properties close to Darajani, the airport, the ferry area or SUZA-linked locations can earn a practical rent premium of about TZS 200,000 to TZS 600,000 per month, or about $75 to $230 and €70 to €210.
Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Zanzibar right now?
The top expat rental neighborhoods in Zanzibar are Fumba Town, Paje and Stone Town, with Mbweni, Jambiani, Bwejuu, Nungwi and Kendwa also attracting many foreign renters.
Expats in these Zanzibar neighborhoods usually pay about TZS 2.5 million to TZS 7 million per month, or about $950 to $2,670 and €880 to €2,460.
These areas attract expats because they offer furnished homes, beach access or walkability, more comfort, stronger internet expectations, security and easier access to international-style services.
The most visible expat groups in these Zanzibar areas include European residents, digital nomads, NGO workers, tourism professionals, East African businesspeople and some Middle Eastern and South Asian business-linked renters.
And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our Sources and methodology: we used Fumba Town, Airbnb and ZNZ Apartments to understand expat-facing supply. We checked long-term asking rents on Jiji Tanzania. We also used our own expat demand mapping for Zanzibar.
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Who rents, and what do tenants want in Zanzibar right now?
Rental demand in Zanzibar in 2026 is split between local tenants who need practical monthly affordability and foreign-facing tenants who pay more for comfort, furnishing, location and reliable utilities.
What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Zanzibar?
The top tenant profiles in Zanzibar are local families and civil servants, tourism and hospitality workers, and expats or NGO-linked renters.
A practical estimate is that local families and civil servants make up about 45% of the residential rental market in Zanzibar, tourism and hospitality workers about 25%, and expats, NGO staff and digital nomads about 20%, with students and other renters making up the rest.
Local families usually look for unfurnished 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom homes, tourism workers often need affordable studios or 1-bedroom apartments, and expats usually want furnished 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom units with air conditioning and internet.
If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our Sources and methodology: we used population data from OCGS, tourism signals from ZANSIS and rental stock from Jiji Tanzania. We separated local long-term tenants from foreign-facing furnished demand. We also used our own Zanzibar tenant segmentation model.
Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Zanzibar?
In Zanzibar in 2026, about 55% of visible rental demand is for unfurnished or semi-furnished homes, while about 45% is for furnished homes, but furnished demand is much stronger in expat and beach areas.
A furnished apartment in Zanzibar can usually earn a premium of about TZS 400,000 to TZS 1.2 million per month, or about $150 to $460 and €140 to €420, compared with a similar unfurnished apartment.
Furnished rentals in Zanzibar are mainly preferred by expats, digital nomads, NGO staff, tourism managers and short-to-medium-stay tenants, while local families more often prefer unfurnished homes to keep rent lower.
Which amenities increase rent the most in Zanzibar?
The five amenities that increase rent the most in Zanzibar are air conditioning, backup power, fast internet, 24-hour security and a pool or sea view.
In Zanzibar, air conditioning can add about TZS 300,000 to TZS 700,000 per month, backup power TZS 250,000 to TZS 600,000, fast internet TZS 100,000 to TZS 300,000, security TZS 150,000 to TZS 400,000, and a pool or sea view TZS 600,000 to TZS 1.8 million, or about $40 to $690 and €35 to €630 depending on the amenity.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Zanzibar, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.
What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Zanzibar?
The five renovations that usually get the best rental ROI in Zanzibar are air conditioning, mosquito-proofing, bathroom upgrades, kitchen upgrades and backup power or solar support.
A practical renovation budget in Zanzibar is about TZS 8 million to TZS 25 million for a mid-market apartment and TZS 25 million to TZS 60 million for a premium expat unit, or about $3,050 to $22,900 and €2,800 to €21,050, with rent increases often ranging from TZS 300,000 to TZS 1.5 million per month.
Landlords in Zanzibar should be careful with luxury finishes, oversized pools, expensive imported furniture and hotel-style decoration, because these upgrades can cost a lot while long-term tenants may only pay for practical comfort.
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How strong is rental demand in Zanzibar as of 2026?
Rental demand in Zanzibar in 2026 is strong, but it is strongest for homes that are well located, fairly priced, clean, secure and comfortable in the local climate.
What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated vacancy rate for normal long-term residential rentals in Zanzibar is about 8% to 12%.
A realistic vacancy range in Zanzibar is about 5% to 8% for good furnished units in Stone Town, Fumba, Mbweni, Paje and Nungwi, about 8% to 15% for ordinary local apartments, and about 15% to 25% for overpriced luxury villas or beach homes.
Compared with the historical pattern, current vacancy in Zanzibar looks lower for good furnished stock but higher for overpriced premium homes, because demand is strong but tenants are still price-sensitive.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Zanzibar.
How many days do rentals stay listed in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, good long-term rentals in Zanzibar usually stay listed for about 30 to 45 days on average before finding a tenant.
The realistic range is about 15 to 30 days for good furnished units in Stone Town, Fumba, Chukwani, Mbweni, Paje and Jambiani, about 30 to 60 days for average homes, and 90 days or more for overpriced or poorly maintained homes.
Compared with one year ago, days on market in Zanzibar appear shorter for good furnished homes but still long for expensive beach houses priced too close to short-stay villa rates.
Which months have peak tenant demand in Zanzibar?
The peak tenant-demand months in Zanzibar are usually June to September and December to February.
Demand rises in these months because tourism activity, dry-season movement, beach-area demand and furnished-rental pressure are stronger, especially in Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje, Jambiani and Bwejuu.
The lowest tenant-demand months in Zanzibar are usually March to May, when rainfall and lower tourism pressure make some tenants more cautious and some landlords more flexible.
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What will my monthly costs be in Zanzibar as of 2026?
For a small landlord in Zanzibar in 2026, non-mortgage costs usually take about 15% to 30% of gross rent before income tax, and the share can be higher for furnished or beach-area homes.
What property taxes should landlords expect in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, a typical annual property tax bill for a residential landlord in Zanzibar is about TZS 250,000 to TZS 500,000 for a property assessed at TZS 250 million to TZS 500 million, or about $95 to $190 and €90 to €175 per year.
A realistic annual property tax range in Zanzibar is about TZS 150,000 to TZS 1 million for many normal residential properties, or about $60 to $380 and €50 to €350, depending mainly on assessed value.
Zanzibar property tax is generally calculated as a percentage of assessed property value, and the residential framework commonly uses 0.1% per year unless a specific assessment or rule changes the final amount.
Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Zanzibar, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.
What utilities do landlords often pay in Zanzibar right now?
Landlords in Zanzibar often pay or manage building-level security, common-area cleaning, compound maintenance, water systems, septic service, internet setup and sometimes generator servicing.
A practical monthly cost estimate is about TZS 100,000 to TZS 300,000 for security share, TZS 50,000 to TZS 150,000 for cleaning or compound care, TZS 50,000 to TZS 200,000 for water and septic systems, and TZS 100,000 to TZS 400,000 for internet or backup-power support, or about $20 to $150 and €18 to €140 per item.
In ordinary Zanzibar rentals, tenants usually pay electricity, personal internet, gas and daily water use, while premium furnished rentals often include internet, security or backup power to make the monthly cost easier for expat tenants.
How is rental income taxed in Zanzibar as of 2026?
As of 2026, rental income in Zanzibar is generally taxable, and a simple planning rule for a small landlord is to reserve at least 10% of gross rent for tax before getting local advice.
Common deductions may include repairs, maintenance, property-management costs, some utility costs, insurance, interest and other costs linked to earning rental income, but the exact treatment depends on the landlord, ownership structure and records.
Common tax mistakes in Zanzibar include mixing Zanzibar-specific property tax with mainland Tanzania rules, ignoring withholding-tax obligations, failing to keep receipts, and using short-stay income assumptions for a normal long-term rental.
We cover these mistakes, among others, in our Sources and methodology: we used Zanzibar Revenue Authority, TRA Taxes and Duties at a Glance 2025/2026 and PwC Tanzania tax data card. We kept the tax section simple because the final tax position depends on the landlord. We recommend local tax advice before filing or buying.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Tanzania versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it’s in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Zanzibar, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don’t throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we’ve listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why we trust it | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Office of the Chief Government Statistician Zanzibar | It is Zanzibar’s official statistics office. | We used it for population, inflation, tourism and macro context. We used the 2026 updates to anchor demand and rent-growth assumptions. |
| Zanzibar Statistical Information System | It is the official Zanzibar statistical data portal. | We used it to cross-check official Zanzibar indicators. We used it especially for tourism, CPI and population signals. |
| Zanzibar Statistical Abstract 2025 | It is OCGS’s annual statistical compendium. | We used it for the broader economic and demographic picture. We used it to avoid relying only on property listings. |
| 2022 Population and Housing Census Zanzibar profile | It is the official census profile for Zanzibar. | We used it to understand household and population demand. We used it to identify why Urban West and Unguja dominate rental demand. |
| NBS Consumer Price Index 2026 | It is Tanzania’s official CPI release page. | We used it to compare rent growth with general inflation. We used it as a check against unrealistic rent-growth claims. |
| Bank of Tanzania exchange rates | It is the official central bank exchange-rate page. | We used it to convert Tanzanian shilling rents into approximate US dollars and euros. We used a simple June 2026 exchange-rate anchor for readability. |
| Bank of Tanzania monthly economic reviews | It is the central bank’s official macroeconomic publication page. | We used it for macro, tourism and inflation context. We used it to judge whether rents are likely to keep rising in 2026. |
| Zanzibar Revenue Authority | It is Zanzibar’s official domestic tax authority. | We used it for landlord tax and property-tax context. We used it to separate Zanzibar-specific taxes from mainland Tanzania rules. |
| Zanzibar Property Tax Act | It is the consolidated legal text for Zanzibar property tax. | We used it for the 0.1% residential property-tax framework. We used it to estimate annual landlord property-tax cost. |
| Tanzania Revenue Authority taxes and duties 2025/2026 | It is TRA’s official tax guide. | We used it for income-tax and withholding-tax context. We used it to frame rental income taxation simply for landlords. |
| PwC Tanzania tax data card 2025/2026 | PwC is a major tax advisory firm with a transparent annual Tanzania tax guide. | We used it to cross-check TRA tax rates. We used it only as a secondary source, not as the legal authority. |
| Jiji Tanzania Zanzibar rentals | It is one of the largest visible rental-listing marketplaces in Tanzania. | We used it to observe current asking rents by bedroom count and location. We filtered out obvious short-stay or luxury outliers when estimating typical long-term rents. |
| Rentberry Zanzibar rentals | It provides a searchable set of Zanzibar rental listings. | We used it to cross-check price bands and amenities. We treated it cautiously because some listings resemble short-stay inventory. |
| ZNZ Apartments | It is a Zanzibar-focused agency site with named local rental areas. | We used it to confirm where active rental stock is marketed. We used it as a local-market check for areas such as Fumba, Stone Town, Mbweni and Paje. |
| Airbnb Zanzibar apartment rentals | It is a major short-stay platform with current Zanzibar apartment supply. | We used it only to understand seasonal pressure and furnished-apartment demand. We did not use nightly rates directly as long-term rents. |
| State University of Zanzibar campuses | It is the official university website. | We used it to identify student-linked rental demand areas. We used it for Tunguu, Beit-el-Ras and Vuga campus geography. |
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