Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Dar es Salaam Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Dar es Salaam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $874 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,402 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,930 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Dar es Salaam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$2.74 TZS 7,178

-28.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$19.19 TZS 50.3K

-4.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$7.64 TZS 20.0K

-2.09%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$1.94 TZS 5,101

4.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.36 TZS 938

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.22 TZS 576

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.04 TZS 2,716

105.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.89 TZS 4,966

89.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.07 TZS 2,819

54.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$0.83 TZS 2,178

89.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$1.09 TZS 2,855

9.17%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$2.06 TZS 5,395

-5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.55 TZS 25.0K

69.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

-47.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$4.36 TZS 11.5K

150.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$2.56 TZS 6,728

5.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$1.02 TZS 2,667

14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$1.06 TZS 2,794

59.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.09 TZS 2,858

46.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$0.89 TZS 2,323

55.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$1.51 TZS 3,951

-20.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$0.91 TZS 2,387

-26.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.40 TZS 1,057

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.98 TZS 5,190

134.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

$6.98 TZS 18.3K

152.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

$0.95 TZS 2,488

95.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.62 TZS 4,243

103.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.26 TZS 683

238.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$17.62 TZS 46.2K

9.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$1.42 TZS 3,719

-4.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$1.49 TZS 3,904

-10.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$13.51 TZS 35.5K

-39.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$1.20 TZS 3,144

1.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$16.8K TZS 44.1M

27.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$17.3K TZS 45.3M

30.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.7 ฿2,372

$97.0 TZS 254.6K

-27.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.04 ฿471

$10.92 TZS 28.7K

28.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$32.24 TZS 84.6K

-45.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$95.1 TZS 249.5K

-55.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

44.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

26.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$258 TZS 676.9K

19.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$18.8K TZS 49.4M

-21.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$26.38 TZS 69.2K

111.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$42.45 TZS 111.4K

-38.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$47.02 TZS 123.4K

76.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$84.8 TZS 222.5K

-16.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$594 TZS 1.6M

-27.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$262 TZS 686.3K

-8.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$1,292 TZS 3.4M

-36.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$652 TZS 1.7M

-21.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$1,504 TZS 3.9M

27.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

36.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$275 TZS 722.4K

110.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

-74.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $594 in Dar es Salaam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 110% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $167 in Dar es Salaam – so Dar es Salaam wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Dar es Salaam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dar es Salaam costs about 2% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,311 in Dar es Salaam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $258 in Dar es Salaam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 46% cheaper in Dar es Salaam – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Dar es Salaam at $874. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $874 in Dar es Salaam. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dar es Salaam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.