💰 Cost of Living
Average monthly expenses for a digital nomad
🏠 Accommodation
🍜 Food & Dining
🚗 Transportation
🎯 Other
⚡ Digital Nomad Essentials
Everything you need to work remotely from Zanzibar
📶 Internet
☁️ Weather
✈️ Transport
🛂 Visa
✓Advantages
- ✓Stunning pristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters
- ✓Rich Swahili and Arab cultural heritage
- ✓UNESCO World Heritage Stone Town
- ✓Delicious fusion cuisine with African, Arab, and Indian influences
- ✓Friendly and welcoming local community
- ✓Year-round warm tropical climate
- ✓Unique spice island experience
- ✓Growing digital nomad community in Paje
- ✓Affordable local food and transportation
- ✓Incredible diving and snorkeling opportunities
✗Disadvantages
- ✗Internet can be slow and unreliable with frequent power cuts
- ✗Accommodation is expensive for long-term stays
- ✗Limited coworking space options compared to other DN hubs
- ✗Most things are imported making groceries expensive
- ✗Tidal beaches on east coast can limit swimming times
- ✗Conservative Muslim culture requires modest dress
- ✗Limited nightlife outside tourist areas
- ✗Finding affordable monthly rentals is challenging
- ✗Intense heat and humidity during hot season
- ✗Basic healthcare facilities for serious conditions
💼 Top Coworking Spaces
Best places to work in Zanzibar
The Train's House Coworking
📍 Darajani, Stone Town, Zanzibar • 50 Mbps • Meeting rooms
Tarawanda Box
📍 Hifadhi Building, Kiponda, Stone Town • 30 Mbps
Kokaya Space
📍 Mizingani Road, Stone Town, Zanzibar • 35 Mbps
The Nest Paje
📍 Paje Beach Road, Paje, Zanzibar • 40 Mbps • Meeting rooms
Dar Mar Hostel & Coworking
📍 Main Road, Paje, Zanzibar • 35 Mbps
☕ Best Cafes to Work From
Laptop-friendly cafes with good WiFi
Karafuu Coffee House
📍 Stone Town
Traveller's Cafe
📍 Stone Town
Mr. Kahawa
📍 Paje
Hello Capitano
📍 Paje
Cafe Africano
📍 Stone Town
Zava Restaurant
📍 Nungwi
🏘️ Best Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Zanzibar
Stone Town
The UNESCO World Heritage heart of Zanzibar, Stone Town is a charming labyrinth of winding alleys, historic buildings, and vibrant markets. Best location for digital nomads who prioritize culture, walkability, and access to coworking spaces. The area buzzes with activity during the day and offers amazing food markets at night. Most coworking spaces and cafes with reliable WiFi are concentrated here.
Paje
The digital nomad hotspot of Zanzibar, Paje offers the best mix of beach life, cafes with WiFi, and a vibrant international community. Known worldwide for kitesurfing, the area attracts a young, adventurous crowd. While the beach is tidal, the village has excellent restaurants, boutique accommodation, and the most laptop-friendly cafes on the island. The most reliable internet outside Stone Town.
Nungwi
Located at the northern tip of the island, Nungwi is famous for its stunning non-tidal beaches and lively tourist atmosphere. More resort-focused than Paje, it offers beautiful sunsets, excellent diving, and a range of accommodation options. WiFi can be hit or miss, but some beachfront cafes cater to remote workers. Best for those who prioritize beach quality over work infrastructure.
Jambiani
A quieter alternative to neighboring Paje, Jambiani offers a more authentic local experience with beautiful beaches and fewer tourists. The village maintains a traditional fishing community feel while slowly developing tourist amenities. Great for digital nomads seeking peaceful surroundings and lower costs. Some coworking and coliving options available with improving internet connectivity.
🏛️ Top Attractions
Best things to do in Zanzibar
Stone Town UNESCO Heritage Site
Wander through the enchanting maze of narrow alleys and winding streets that make up Zanzibar's historic heart. Stone Town showcases a unique blend of African, Arab, Indian, and European architectural influences dating back centuries. Discover ornate carved wooden doors, the Old Fort, the House of Wonders, and bustling spice markets. The area comes alive at night with the famous Forodhani Gardens food market.
Prison Island (Changuu)
A short boat ride from Stone Town, Prison Island offers a fascinating glimpse into Zanzibar's history combined with wildlife encounters. Originally used as a slave detention center and later a quarantine station, the island is now home to giant Aldabra tortoises, some over 100 years old. Visitors can feed and interact with these gentle giants while enjoying the pristine beach and clear waters.
Jozani Forest National Park
Home to the rare and endangered Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey found nowhere else on Earth. This lush tropical forest offers nature trails through ancient trees, mangroves, and diverse ecosystems. Expert guides help spot wildlife including various monkey species, butterflies, and over 40 bird species. An essential experience for nature lovers and photographers seeking unique wildlife encounters.
Forodhani Gardens Night Market
Experience the vibrant evening food market in Stone Town where locals and tourists gather nightly for incredible street food. Sizzling grills serve fresh seafood, Zanzibar pizza, urojo soup, and kebabs at affordable prices. The market transforms the waterfront gardens into a lively social scene with the aroma of spices filling the air. A must-do culinary adventure that captures the island's essence.
Spice Farm Tour
Discover why Zanzibar earned its nickname as the Spice Island with an immersive tour of a traditional spice farm. Learn about and taste cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, black pepper, and countless other spices that have shaped the island's history and economy. Guides demonstrate how spices grow and their traditional uses in cooking and medicine. Take home fresh spices as unique souvenirs.
The Rock Restaurant
One of Zanzibar's most iconic and photographed spots, The Rock is a restaurant perched on a small rock formation in the ocean near Pingwe. Accessible by foot at low tide or by boat at high tide, it offers fresh seafood with panoramic ocean views. While touristy and pricey, the unique setting and photogenic location make it a bucket-list experience for many visitors.
Maalum Natural Cave Pool
A hidden gem featuring a stunning natural underground swimming hole with crystal-clear turquoise water. This natural cave pool offers a refreshing escape from the tropical heat and one of Zanzibar's most unique swimming experiences. The cave features dramatic stalactites and excellent natural lighting for photography. Bring water shoes as the cave floor can be slippery.
Nungwi Beach & Turtle Sanctuary
Zanzibar's most famous beach destination featuring powdery white sand and crystal-clear waters perfect for swimming without tidal restrictions. The nearby Mnarani Natural Aquarium rehabilitates injured sea turtles before releasing them back to the ocean. Visitors can feed and swim with turtles in natural pools. The beach offers stunning sunsets and a lively atmosphere with beach bars and water activities.
🛡️ Safety & Healthcare
What to know about safety and medical care
🚨 Safety
🏥 Healthcare
💬 What Nomads Say
Real reviews from digital nomads
"Zanzibar exceeded all my expectations as a digital nomad destination. I spent two months based in Paje and absolutely loved the lifestyle. Yes, the internet isn't as reliable as Southeast Asia, but with a Vodacom SIM card and the coworking spaces, I managed video calls without issues. The real magic is the work-life balance - finishing work to watch incredible sunsets, swimming in turquoise waters, and eating amazing seafood for dinner. Stone Town weekends exploring UNESCO heritage sites felt like stepping back in time. The community is smaller but genuine, and I made lasting friendships with other nomads. Cost-wise, it's not as cheap as advertised online, but the quality of life is unmatched."
"Beautiful island with amazing photo opportunities everywhere, but not without challenges for remote work. The internet situation has improved but still requires backup plans - I always had my phone hotspot ready. Power cuts happen, so staying somewhere with a generator is essential. Finding affordable monthly accommodation was harder than expected; most places cater to short-term tourists. The local culture is conservative, so dress modestly outside beach areas. That said, the food scene is incredible, the beaches are paradise, and Stone Town's night market is unforgettable. Perfect for a month-long workcation if you plan ahead, but might frustrate those needing constant connectivity."
"I wanted to love Zanzibar more than I did. The beaches are genuinely stunning and Stone Town is fascinating, but as a dedicated workspace it has limitations. The WiFi at my Airbnb was painfully slow, and while coworking spaces help, they're limited and not always convenient. Costs add up quickly - accommodation, imported groceries, and tourist prices for everything. The persistent beach boys and tour sellers in some areas got exhausting. However, if you reduce work hours and embrace island time, it transforms the experience. I'd recommend it for a creative sabbatical rather than intensive work periods. The Sauti za Busara festival in February was a highlight - incredible African music in a magical setting."
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