Almost all of Tanzania’s remote workers are on Zanzibar, spread between the kitesurf beaches of the east coast, the old town of Stone Town and the resort villages of the north. On the mainland, Dar es Salaam has the infrastructure, and Arusha and Moshi have mountain air and safaris on the doorstep. This page compares six bases.
The costs below are ballpark figures for a comfortable month for one person: a one-bedroom apartment or room on a monthly rate, eating out most days, transport and a social life.
The Bases at a Glance#
| Base | Comfortable month | Best months | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paje and Jambiani | $1,200 to $1,800 | June to October, December to February | Kitesurfing, beach life, nomad community |
| Stone Town | $1,100 to $1,600 | June to October, December to February | History, better internet, services |
| Nungwi | $1,300 to $1,900 | June to October, December to February | Swimming beaches, sunsets |
| Dar es Salaam | $1,300 to $1,900 | June to October | City life, internet, healthcare |
| Arusha | $1,000 to $1,400 | June to October, January to February | Safaris, cool climate, NGO community |
| Moshi | $900 to $1,300 | June to October, January to February | Kilimanjaro, small-town calm |
Paje and Jambiani#
Zanzibar’s east coast is the heart of Tanzania’s nomad scene. Paje has a wide, shallow lagoon that is one of the world’s best places to learn kitesurfing, with kite schools, beach cafes, coliving houses and a sociable crowd. Jambiani, a few kilometres south, is a quieter fishing village with cheaper rooms and a slower pace. Internet is the weak point: most connections are slow and drop in heavy rain, so check the setup and backup power before you commit to a monthly rental. Stone Town and the airport are about an hour’s drive away. Many places close in the long rains of April and May. See the Zanzibar digital nomad guide.
Stone Town#
Zanzibar’s old town is a UNESCO-listed maze of coral-stone houses, carved doors, markets and rooftop restaurants, with Swahili, Arab and Indian history on every corner. It has the island’s best internet, hospitals, banks and ferry links to Dar es Salaam, and it’s ten minutes from the airport. The trade-offs are heat, noise and no swimming beach, and it is conservative: dress modestly, especially during Ramadan. Many long-stayers spend a week here sorting SIMs and cash before heading to the coast. See the Zanzibar digital nomad guide.
Nungwi#
The village at Zanzibar’s northern tip has beaches where you can swim at any tide, unlike the east coast’s lagoons, and some of the island’s best sunsets. It is more resort-focused and a little pricier than Paje, with a smaller long-stay community, and the internet is similarly patchy. Nearby Kendwa is quieter. It suits people who want swimming and diving more than kitesurfing. See the Zanzibar digital nomad guide.
Dar es Salaam#
Tanzania’s largest city and commercial capital is hot, busy and spread along the Indian Ocean. Most foreigners live on the Msasani Peninsula, in Masaki and Oyster Bay, with sea views, international restaurants and the best fibre in the country, or in Mikocheni. It has the main international airport, the country’s best private hospitals and ferries to Zanzibar. Traffic is heavy, the beaches in town aren’t great, and street crime means you should use Bolt at night. It suits people who need reliable internet or city services more than a nomad scene.
Arusha#
The safari capital sits at about 1,400 metres below Mount Meru, so it is green and much cooler than the coast, with chilly evenings from June to August. It has a large community of NGO workers, safari operators and expats, decent internet in the main neighbourhoods, and good private clinics. The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire are a drive away, and Kilimanjaro Airport is about an hour east. It suits people who want weekend safaris and a temperate climate.
Moshi#
A small, walkable and relaxed town at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, with the mountain’s snowy peak visible on clear mornings. It’s cheaper than Arusha, with cafes, a climbing crowd and the large Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre hospital. Internet is fine in town but slower outside it. It suits people who want quiet, low costs and hiking, and anyone planning to climb Kilimanjaro.
Choosing Your Base#
- Come in the dry season. June to October is the best time everywhere, with a second good spell on the coast from December to February.
- Avoid the long rains. From March to May, many Zanzibar guesthouses close and the mainland’s roads flood.
- Check the internet before you rent, especially on Zanzibar, and ask about generator or solar backup.
- Plan for 90 days. Your visa caps each stay, so many nomads combine Tanzania with Kenya or Rwanda.
- Think about healthcare. Outside Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Moshi, serious cases need a transfer or evacuation.
Where to Base FAQs#
Where do most digital nomads live in Tanzania?
Most live on Zanzibar’s east coast, in Paje and Jambiani, near the kitesurf lagoon and beach cafes. Stone Town and Dar es Salaam have a few more, mostly people who need better internet.
What is the cheapest place in Tanzania for digital nomads?
Moshi is the cheapest of the main bases, at about $900 to $1,300 a month for a comfortable life. Jambiani is the cheaper option on Zanzibar’s east coast.
Is Dar es Salaam good for digital nomads?
It has Tanzania’s best internet, hospitals and flights, but few nomads, heavy traffic and some street crime. It suits people who need reliability more than community.
Is Arusha or Moshi better for remote work?
Arusha is bigger, with more expats, services and safari connections. Moshi is smaller, cheaper and calmer, with Kilimanjaro on the doorstep.
Is Zanzibar's internet good enough for remote work?
It is fine for email and light calls in Stone Town, but slow and unreliable on the east coast, especially in heavy rain. Carry a second SIM and choose accommodation with backup power.