Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $874 in Dar es Salaam versus $441 in Bagamoyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,402 in Dar es Salaam versus $706 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,930 in Dar es Salaam versus $971 in Bagamoyo.

Living in Dar es Salaam is roughly 98% more expensive than in Bagamoyo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Bagamoyo 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,178

$1.98 TZS 5,185

38.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.19 TZS 50.3K

$11.46 TZS 30.1K

67.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 TZS 20.0K

$7.94 TZS 20.8K

-3.78%

Cappuccino

$1.94 TZS 5,101

$1.95 TZS 5,111

-0.51%

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

$0.36 TZS 938

$0.37 TZS 960

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 576

$0.21 TZS 561

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,716

$1.04 TZS 2,730

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 TZS 4,966

$1.96 TZS 5,136

-3.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 TZS 2,819

$0.75 TZS 1,959

42.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,178

$0.81 TZS 2,132

2.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,855

$0.38 TZS 990

186.84%

Eggs

$2.06 TZS 5,395

$2.01 TZS 5,280

2.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 TZS 25.0K

$9.29 TZS 24.4K

2.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

$5.91 TZS 15.5K

-2.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.36 TZS 11.5K

$4.38 TZS 11.5K

-0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 TZS 6,728

$2.66 TZS 6,970

-3.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,667

$0.95 TZS 2,489

7.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,794

$1.05 TZS 2,760

0.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,858

$0.57 TZS 1,487

91.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 TZS 2,323

$0.30 TZS 778

196.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 TZS 3,951

$0.30 TZS 783

403.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,387

$0.88 TZS 2,317

3.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,057

$0.41 TZS 1,063

-2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 TZS 5,190

$2.00 TZS 5,249

-1.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.98 TZS 18.3K

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

2.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,488

$0.89 TZS 2,342

6.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,243

$1.62 TZS 4,253

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 683

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.62 TZS 46.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 TZS 3,719

$1.43 TZS 3,741

-0.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 TZS 3,904

$1.18 TZS 3,094

26.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.51 TZS 35.5K

$13.79 TZS 36.2K

-2.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,144

$1.22 TZS 3,200

-1.64%

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

$16.8K TZS 44.1M

$17.0K TZS 44.7M

-1.27%

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

$17.3K TZS 45.3M

$17.4K TZS 45.8M

-1.08%

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

$97.0 TZS 254.6K

$97.7 TZS 256.3K

-0.68%

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

$10.92 TZS 28.7K

$4.87 TZS 12.8K

124.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.24 TZS 84.6K

$22.94 TZS 60.2K

40.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.1 TZS 249.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

$4.89 TZS 12.8K

-4.50%

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

$258 TZS 676.9K

$257 TZS 674.5K

0.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K TZS 49.4M

$19.0K TZS 49.8M

-0.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.38 TZS 69.2K

$25.92 TZS 68.0K

1.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.45 TZS 111.4K

$43.36 TZS 113.8K

-2.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.02 TZS 123.4K

$47.25 TZS 124.0K

-0.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 TZS 222.5K

$42.90 TZS 112.6K

97.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 TZS 1.6M

$58.2 TZS 152.7K

920.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 TZS 686.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 TZS 3.4M

$230 TZS 603.9K

461.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$117 TZS 306.0K

459.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,504 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 TZS 722.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bagamoyo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $594 in Dar es Salaam and $58.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Dar es Salaam vs $11.00 in Bagamoyo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $153 per month, with Bagamoyo cheaper across the board.

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

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

Bagamoyo wins on cost – living expenses run 98% lower than in Dar es Salaam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bagamoyo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,311 in Dar es Salaam and $662 in Bagamoyo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $594 in Dar es Salaam versus $58.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $258 in Dar es Salaam versus $257 in Bagamoyo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bagamoyo – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $441 in Bagamoyo versus $874 in Dar es Salaam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bagamoyo but tight or insufficient in Dar es Salaam. The gap between the two cities makes Bagamoyo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bagamoyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Dar es Salaam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.