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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $851 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $934 in Mandaue, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,361 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,374 in Mandaue, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,814 in Mandaue, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 9% cheaper than Mandaue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mandaue are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 37% lower, Mandaue 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,055

$4.52 ₱279

-39.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.65 TZS 50.7K

$24.25 ₱1,495

-18.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 TZS 20.2K

$4.33 ₱267

81.06%

Cappuccino

$2.03 TZS 5,235

$2.64 ₱163

-23.11%

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

$0.35 TZS 907

$0.81 ₱49.70

-56.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 565

$0.45 ₱27.81

-51.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,679

$1.57 ₱96.6

-33.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,066

$2.08 ₱128

-5.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,745

$2.08 ₱128

-49.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 1,991

$0.75 ₱46.14

2.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,834

$0.97 ₱59.9

13.40%

Eggs

$1.99 TZS 5,123

$2.23 ₱138

-10.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 TZS 23.9K

$12.75 ₱786

-27.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 TZS 15.3K

$5.17 ₱319

14.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 TZS 10.9K

$7.52 ₱464

-43.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,641

$3.58 ₱221

-28.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,647

$1.50 ₱92.7

-31.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,727

$3.26 ₱201

-67.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,698

$2.26 ₱139

-53.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,444

$2.56 ₱158

-62.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 TZS 4,038

$2.53 ₱156

-37.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,183

$0.98 ₱60.3

-13.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,040

$0.79 ₱48.69

-49.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,176

$2.68 ₱165

-25.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.93 TZS 17.9K

$6.34 ₱391

9.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,463

$1.15 ₱70.9

-17.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,190

$2.34 ₱144

-30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 613

$0.26 ₱16.01

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 TZS 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 TZS 3,778

$0.84 ₱51.7

73.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 TZS 4,039

$0.25 ₱15.51

528.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.67 TZS 35.2K

$2.64 ₱163

417.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,205

$1.09 ₱67.2

13.76%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

$29.6K ₱1.8M

-41.30%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

$27.5K ₱1.7M

-36.73%

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

$97.8 TZS 252.1K

$95.5 ₱5,886

2.41%

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

$10.72 TZS 27.6K

$26.50 ₱1,634

-59.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 TZS 81.3K

$29.84 ₱1,840

5.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.0 TZS 242.5K

$47.94 ₱2,956

96.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.97 TZS 12.8K

$4.47 ₱276

11.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 TZS 12.5K

$5.91 ₱364

-17.94%

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

$256 TZS 659.3K

$230 ₱14.2K

10.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K TZS 49.6M

$3,847 ₱237.2K

399.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 TZS 66.4K

$46.31 ₱2,856

-44.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.84 TZS 107.9K

$22.90 ₱1,412

82.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.69 TZS 117.8K

$77.2 ₱4,759

-40.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 TZS 216.1K

$55.8 ₱3,438

50.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 TZS 1.5M

$266 ₱16.4K

116.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 TZS 677.7K

$284 ₱17.5K

-7.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 TZS 3.4M

$854 ₱52.7K

54.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$436 ₱26.9K

49.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 3.9M

$2,353 ₱145.1K

-35.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 TZS 2.7M

$958 ₱59.1K

11.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 TZS 732.2K

$242 ₱14.9K

17.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

145.88%

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 Mandaue: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Dar es Salaam versus $266 in Mandaue. 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 17% higher in Dar es Salaam, 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 $20.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $24.00 in Mandaue. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $228 – 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 Mandaue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mandaue is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,401 in Mandaue. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Dar es Salaam and $24.00 in Mandaue. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Mandaue, 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 Mandaue at $934. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mandaue 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, Mandaue makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.