Nungwi is the name most overseas buyers know first. It sits at the very top of Zanzibar, it has some of the island's most reliable swimming beaches, and it draws a steady stream of holidaymakers. This guide sets out what property costs there today, using live asking prices, and what to weigh before you buy.
Current Nungwi asking prices on ZanzibarFind run from US$148,837 for a one-bedroom suite to US$500,000 for a three-bedroom penthouse, or roughly US$1,300 to US$1,700 per square metre. Most of what is for sale is new-build or off-plan, sold on a leasehold basis.
Nungwi is at the northern tip of Unguja, Zanzibar's main island, about 56 km north of Zanzibar Town. Expect roughly an hour to an hour and a half by road from Stone Town or the airport.
It began as a fishing village and a centre for building dhows, the traditional wooden sailing boats. Today it is also one of the island's main tourism hubs, with a turtle rehabilitation aquarium at Mnarani and a lighthouse at the northern point. The 2022 census counted 30,762 people in Nungwi ward.
Three reasons come up again and again.
These are the Nungwi listings currently live on ZanzibarFind, with price per square metre where the internal area is stated:
| Listing | Asking price | Internal area | Per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hills Nungwi 1 Bedroom Suite | US$148,837 | 89 m² | about US$1,672 |
| The Hills Nungwi 2 Bedroom Residence | US$165,375 | 103 m² | about US$1,606 |
| The Clove 2 Bedroom Villa | US$220,000 | 170 m² | about US$1,294 |
| The Hills Nungwi 3 Bedroom Penthouse | US$500,000 | 328 m² | about US$1,524 |
The Zawadi Luxury 3 Bedroom Villa, with its own pool, is listed at US$250,000. Its internal area is not stated, so it is not in the table.
As elsewhere, smaller apartments cost more per square metre than larger villas. For a comparison with other parts of the island, see our guide to how much property costs in Zanzibar.
It depends on how you plan to use it.
Most current Nungwi stock is being built now. The Hills Nungwi units list a handover date of March 2028, and The Clove and The Zawadi are both sold off-plan. That means your money is committed well before you get the keys, so check the payment schedule and what protects your deposit.
It has demand, but it also has competition. Short-let data from AirROI, an independent analytics service, estimates average occupancy in neighbouring Kendwa at about 29.5% over the past year. The average hides a wide spread: well-presented, well-managed properties do far better than the typical listing.
No listing here comes with a rental guarantee, and none states a yield. If a seller quotes one, ask whether it is gross or net, and whether it allows for tax, management and quiet months.
Our guide on what to look for when buying property in Zanzibar goes through each check in more detail.
If Nungwi is on your list, compare it with one or two other areas before you decide. Our Zanzibar location guide sets out the trade-offs. Then browse properties for sale in Zanzibar to see current Nungwi prices alongside the rest of the island.
Prices are asking prices on live listings as of September 2026 and may change. Occupancy figures are third-party estimates. Take independent legal advice from a Tanzanian lawyer licensed in Zanzibar before you commit to a purchase.
