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: $851 in Dar es Salaam versus $432 in Bagamoyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,361 in Dar es Salaam versus $710 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,871 in Dar es Salaam versus $988 in Bagamoyo.

Living in Dar es Salaam is roughly 97% more expensive than Bagamoyo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dar es Salaam 37% lower, Bagamoyo 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,055

$1.96 TZS 5,061

39.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.65 TZS 50.7K

$11.57 TZS 29.8K

69.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 TZS 20.2K

$7.68 TZS 19.8K

2.08%

Cappuccino

$2.03 TZS 5,235

$1.95 TZS 5,028

4.10%

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

$0.35 TZS 907

$0.36 TZS 932

-2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 565

$0.20 TZS 506

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,679

$1.04 TZS 2,690

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,066

$1.90 TZS 4,905

3.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,745

$0.76 TZS 1,952

39.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 1,991

$0.76 TZS 1,963

1.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,834

$0.41 TZS 1,055

168.29%

Eggs

$1.99 TZS 5,123

$2.06 TZS 5,323

-3.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 TZS 23.9K

$9.70 TZS 25.0K

-4.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 TZS 15.3K

$5.87 TZS 15.1K

1.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 TZS 10.9K

$4.15 TZS 10.7K

1.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,641

$2.63 TZS 6,794

-2.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,647

$0.99 TZS 2,555

4.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,727

$1.01 TZS 2,616

4.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,698

$0.56 TZS 1,437

87.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,444

$0.32 TZS 828

196.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 TZS 4,038

$0.32 TZS 837

390.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,183

$0.85 TZS 2,194

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,040

$0.41 TZS 1,055

-2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,176

$2.06 TZS 5,322

-2.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.93 TZS 17.9K

$7.09 TZS 18.3K

-2.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,463

$0.96 TZS 2,483

-1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,190

$1.67 TZS 4,312

-2.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 613

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 TZS 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 TZS 3,778

$1.47 TZS 3,803

-0.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 TZS 4,039

$1.12 TZS 2,887

40.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.67 TZS 35.2K

$13.69 TZS 35.3K

-0.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,205

$1.24 TZS 3,203

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

$17.1K TZS 44.0M

1.87%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

$17.3K TZS 44.6M

0.54%

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

$97.8 TZS 252.1K

$97.4 TZS 251.1K

0.40%

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

$10.72 TZS 27.6K

$4.77 TZS 12.3K

124.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 TZS 81.3K

$23.11 TZS 59.6K

36.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.0 TZS 242.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.97 TZS 12.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 TZS 12.5K

$4.86 TZS 12.5K

-0.21%

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

$256 TZS 659.3K

$252 TZS 650.1K

1.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K TZS 49.6M

$19.5K TZS 50.2M

-1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 TZS 66.4K

$25.98 TZS 67.0K

-0.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.84 TZS 107.9K

$41.99 TZS 108.3K

-0.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.69 TZS 117.8K

$46.51 TZS 119.9K

-1.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 TZS 216.1K

$42.78 TZS 110.3K

95.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 TZS 1.5M

$57.9 TZS 149.3K

893.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 TZS 677.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 TZS 3.4M

$231 TZS 596.8K

468.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$116 TZS 298.1K

463.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 TZS 2.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 TZS 732.2K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bagamoyo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Dar es Salaam and $57.9 in Bagamoyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Dar es Salaam vs $12.00 in Bagamoyo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $154 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 97% 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 $1,276 in Dar es Salaam and $648 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: $575 in Dar es Salaam versus $57.9 in Bagamoyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $256 in Dar es Salaam versus $252 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 $12.00 versus $20.00 in Dar es Salaam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $432 in Bagamoyo versus $851 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 97% less than in Dar es Salaam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.