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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $851 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,361 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 62% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Dar es Salaam sits 37% below the global median, while Lisbon is 65% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,055

$15.91 €13.69

-82.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.65 TZS 50.7K

$64.8 €55.7

-69.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 TZS 20.2K

$10.51 €9.04

-25.40%

Cappuccino

$2.03 TZS 5,235

$2.87 €2.47

-29.27%

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

$0.35 TZS 907

$2.24 €1.93

-84.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 565

$1.50 €1.29

-85.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,679

$3.49 €3.00

-70.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,066

$3.88 €3.34

-49.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,745

$1.14 €0.98

-7.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 1,991

$1.75 €1.51

-56.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,834

$1.76 €1.51

-37.50%

Eggs

$1.99 TZS 5,123

$3.22 €2.77

-38.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 TZS 23.9K

$13.49 €11.61

-31.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 TZS 15.3K

$7.91 €6.81

-24.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 TZS 10.9K

$15.87 €13.65

-73.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,641

$2.31 €1.99

11.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,647

$1.70 €1.46

-39.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,727

$2.01 €1.73

-47.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,698

$2.46 €2.12

-57.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,444

$1.84 €1.59

-48.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 TZS 4,038

$2.00 €1.72

-21.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,183

$1.93 €1.66

-55.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,040

$0.79 €0.68

-49.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,176

$6.61 €5.68

-69.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.93 TZS 17.9K

$5.72 €4.92

21.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,463

$1.37 €1.17

-30.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,190

$2.97 €2.56

-45.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 613

$2.37 €2.04

-89.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 TZS 45.2K

$45.56 €39.19

-61.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 TZS 3,778

$4.29 €3.69

-65.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 TZS 4,039

$0.82 €0.70

91.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.67 TZS 35.2K

$18.30 €15.74

-25.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,205

$2.06 €1.78

-39.81%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

$34.3K €29.5K

-49.32%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

$39.3K €33.8K

-55.75%

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

$97.8 TZS 252.1K

$148 €127

-33.89%

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

$10.72 TZS 27.6K

$20.52 €17.65

-47.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 TZS 81.3K

$39.61 €34.08

-20.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.0 TZS 242.5K

$47.85 €41.16

96.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.97 TZS 12.8K

$18.92 €16.28

-73.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 TZS 12.5K

$9.18 €7.90

-47.17%

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

$256 TZS 659.3K

$614 €528

-58.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K TZS 49.6M

$16.0K €13.8K

19.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 TZS 66.4K

$105 €90.0

-75.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.84 TZS 107.9K

$42.06 €36.18

-0.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.69 TZS 117.8K

$94.0 €80.8

-51.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 TZS 216.1K

$120 €103

-29.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 TZS 1.5M

$1,628 €1,400

-64.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 TZS 677.7K

$1,255 €1,080

-79.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 TZS 3.4M

$3,030 €2,607

-56.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$2,020 €1,738

-67.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 3.9M

$7,800 €6,709

-80.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 TZS 2.7M

$4,273 €3,675

-75.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 TZS 732.2K

$1,603 €1,379

-82.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

3.81

416.27%

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 Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Dar es Salaam versus $1,628 in Lisbon. 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 465% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $269 – making Dar es Salaam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 160%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,276 per month in Dar es Salaam and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $256 per month in Dar es Salaam and $614 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $851, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dar es Salaam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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