Oaxaca vs Zanzibar City: cost of living for digital nomads
Oaxaca, Mexico and Zanzibar City, Tanzania, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Oaxaca and Zanzibar City cost about the same per month ($1,200).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $500 in Zanzibar City against $520 in Oaxaca.
- Both score 7/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Oaxaca: 50 Mbps typical against 28 Mbps.
- Oaxaca is temperate; Zanzibar City is tropical.
Oaxaca wins 4 of the measured lines; Zanzibar City wins 2.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Oaxaca or Zanzibar City?
Oaxaca and Zanzibar City cost about the same per month for a remote worker, both around $1,200.
Which city is safer, Oaxaca or Zanzibar City?
Oaxaca and Zanzibar City score the same on safety, 7/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Oaxaca or Zanzibar City?
Oaxaca has faster typical internet: 50 Mbps against 28 Mbps in Zanzibar City.
| Line | Oaxaca | Zanzibar City |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Rent | $520 | $500 |
| Food | $340 | $300 |
| Transport | $40 | $60 |
| Coworking | $100 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 50 | 28 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | mid | mid |
| Setting | inland | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Zanzibar City
Island nomad scene around Paje/Jambiani; relaxed and warm.
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Oaxaca November 8, 2026, Zanzibar City November 3, 2026.