ZanzibarvsJohannesburg
💰
Johannesburg saves you $450/month
28% cheaper on rent, food & transport
📶
Johannesburg has 5x faster internet
100 Mbps avg download speed
🌡️
Tropical Wet vs Temperate climate
Different weather patterns year-round
🛂
South Africa offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Zanzibar
Johannesburg
Total Budget
$1,600/mo
$1,150/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$360/mo ✓
$450/mo
Coworking
$180/mo
$165/mo ✓
Meal Out
$4
$4
Coffee
$2 ✓
$2.5
Johannesburg is $450/mo cheaper (39% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🌍 Zanzibar
📶 Internet20 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+3
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East3h
🇬🇧 London8h
🇩🇪 Berlin8h
🇿🇦 Johannesburg
📶 Internet100 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+2
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West1h
🇺🇸 US East4h
🇬🇧 London8h
🇩🇪 Berlin8h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Zanzibar
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days221/year
Best months: January, July, September
Johannesburg
ClimateTemperate
Avg Temp16°C
Rainy Days93/year
Best months: September, May, June, July
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
28°20°
Apr
26°16°
Jul
25°10°
Oct
26°18°
ZanzibarJohannesburg
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🌍Zanzibar
🇿🇦Johannesburg
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,600
$1,150
Winner📶
Internet Speed
20 Mbps
100 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
4/5
Winner2.5/5
⭐
Nomad Score
3.8/10
3.6/10
🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
8/10
🎉
Nightlife
6/10
7/10
🚶
Walkability
6/10
Winner4/10
👥
Community
small
medium
Winner2
Zanzibar wins
vs
3
Johannesburg wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Johannesburg
$450/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Johannesburg
100 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Johannesburg
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️Safety-First
Zanzibar
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🌍Zanzibar
Pros
- +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
Cons
- −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
🇿🇦Johannesburg
Pros
- +Very affordable cost of living
- +Fast fiber and 5G internet
- +Excellent food scene with diverse cuisines
- +Gateway to Kruger National Park safaris
Cons
- −Safety concerns require vigilance
- −CBD and some areas are unsafe
- −Load shedding affects power reliability
- −Car-dependent city with limited walkability
