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 $874 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $905 in Mandaue, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,402 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,369 in Mandaue, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,930 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,833 in Mandaue, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 3% cheaper than Mandaue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mandaue are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Mandaue 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,178

$4.40 ₱271

-37.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.19 TZS 50.3K

$23.85 ₱1,468

-19.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 TZS 20.0K

$4.37 ₱269

74.83%

Cappuccino

$1.94 TZS 5,101

$2.55 ₱157

-23.92%

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

$0.36 TZS 938

$0.78 ₱48.26

-53.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 576

$0.43 ₱26.31

-48.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,716

$1.52 ₱93.8

-31.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 TZS 4,966

$2.15 ₱132

-12.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 TZS 2,819

$2.12 ₱130

-49.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,178

$0.80 ₱49.37

3.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,855

$0.98 ₱60.5

11.22%

Eggs

$2.06 TZS 5,395

$2.26 ₱139

-8.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 TZS 25.0K

$12.94 ₱797

-26.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

$5.18 ₱319

10.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.36 TZS 11.5K

$7.77 ₱478

-43.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 TZS 6,728

$3.57 ₱220

-28.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,667

$1.53 ₱94.3

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,794

$3.39 ₱209

-68.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,858

$2.26 ₱139

-51.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 TZS 2,323

$2.55 ₱157

-65.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 TZS 3,951

$2.47 ₱152

-38.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,387

$0.94 ₱57.7

-3.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,057

$0.79 ₱48.55

-49.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 TZS 5,190

$2.62 ₱161

-24.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.98 TZS 18.3K

$6.24 ₱384

11.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,488

$1.17 ₱71.8

-18.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,243

$2.36 ₱145

-31.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 683

$0.26 ₱15.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.62 TZS 46.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 TZS 3,719

$0.87 ₱53.4

63.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 TZS 3,904

$0.25 ₱15.48

496.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.51 TZS 35.5K

$2.63 ₱162

413.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,144

$1.09 ₱67.2

10.09%

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

$16.8K TZS 44.1M

$30.1K ₱1.9M

-44.12%

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

$17.3K TZS 45.3M

$27.4K ₱1.7M

-36.97%

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

$97.0 TZS 254.6K

$96.6 ₱5,944

0.50%

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

$10.92 TZS 28.7K

$26.07 ₱1,605

-58.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.24 TZS 84.6K

$30.13 ₱1,855

7.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.1 TZS 249.5K

$48.75 ₱3,001

95.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

$4.36 ₱268

9.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

$6.11 ₱376

-23.57%

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

$258 TZS 676.9K

$228 ₱14.1K

12.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K TZS 49.4M

$3,860 ₱237.6K

388.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.38 TZS 69.2K

$44.98 ₱2,769

-41.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.45 TZS 111.4K

$23.33 ₱1,437

81.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.02 TZS 123.4K

$75.8 ₱4,667

-37.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 TZS 222.5K

$55.5 ₱3,416

52.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 TZS 1.6M

$263 ₱16.2K

125.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 TZS 686.3K

$287 ₱17.7K

-8.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 TZS 3.4M

$837 ₱51.6K

54.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$442 ₱27.2K

47.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,504 TZS 3.9M

$2,718 ₱167.3K

-44.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

$837 ₱51.5K

28.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 TZS 722.4K

$246 ₱15.1K

11.98%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $594 in Dar es Salaam versus $263 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 12% 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 $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $24.00 in Mandaue. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $231 – 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 4%, 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 $1,311 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,358 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 $19.00 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 39% 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 $874, than in Mandaue at $905. 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.