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 $720 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $842 in Mandaue, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,202 in Mandaue, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,553 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,562 in Mandaue, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 15% cheaper than Mandaue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mandaue are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 48% lower, Mandaue 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 TZS 5,103

$3.12 ₱195

-37.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.12 TZS 50.3K

$23.01 ₱1,439

-16.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.32 TZS 21.9K

$3.90 ₱244

113.33%

Cappuccino

$1.90 TZS 4,985

$2.51 ₱157

-24.30%

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

$0.34 TZS 905

$0.59 ₱36.76

-42.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 578

$0.50 ₱31.03

-56.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 TZS 2,548

$1.78 ₱111

-45.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 TZS 4,883

$2.20 ₱138

-15.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 TZS 2,122

$1.94 ₱122

-58.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TZS 1,492

$1.19 ₱74.4

-52.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,766

$0.92 ₱57.7

14.13%

Eggs

$1.93 TZS 5,063

$2.06 ₱129

-6.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$9.95 ₱622

-2.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 TZS 12.1K

$4.46 ₱279

3.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

$7.39 ₱462

-47.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 TZS 6,537

$3.31 ₱207

-24.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,763

$1.47 ₱91.9

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,608

$2.42 ₱151

-59.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,718

$1.55 ₱97.0

-33.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,414

$2.36 ₱147

-61.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,800

$1.89 ₱118

-43.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 TZS 2,283

$1.20 ₱74.9

-27.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 TZS 1,012

$0.63 ₱39.13

-39.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,057

$2.47 ₱154

-6.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

$6.37 ₱399

6.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 TZS 2,153

$1.24 ₱77.3

-33.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 TZS 4,003

$1.69 ₱105

-10.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 630

$0.24 ₱14.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.92 TZS 39.2K

$10.58 ₱661

41.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 TZS 4,234

$0.78 ₱49.01

106.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,075

$0.21 ₱13.09

638.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$1.94 ₱121

576.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 TZS 3,467

$1.27 ₱79.2

3.94%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.8M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

-19.87%

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

$26.0K TZS 68.4M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

31.80%

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

$55.7 TZS 146.5K

$99.6 ₱6,229

-44.07%

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

$8.90 TZS 23.4K

$14.83 ₱927

-39.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.85 TZS 91.6K

$28.47 ₱1,781

22.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.3 TZS 211.1K

$31.87 ₱1,993

151.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 TZS 22.2K

$5.02 ₱314

67.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 TZS 13.4K

$5.69 ₱356

-10.02%

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

$564 TZS 1.5M

$136 ₱8,512

314.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K TZS 35.1M

$8,067 ₱504.5K

65.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.28 TZS 37.5K

$32.04 ₱2,004

-55.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.97 TZS 68.3K

$19.34 ₱1,210

34.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.83 TZS 115.2K

$78.5 ₱4,911

-44.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 TZS 173.8K

$58.8 ₱3,674

12.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 TZS 1.5M

$440 ₱27.5K

33.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 TZS 529.7K

$252 ₱15.8K

-20.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

$754 ₱47.1K

82.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 TZS 1.1M

$356 ₱22.2K

20.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 4.0M

$2,943 ₱184.0K

-48.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,059 TZS 2.8M

$1,157 ₱72.4K

-8.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 TZS 727.3K

$244 ₱15.3K

13.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

7.2

153.47%

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $585 in Dar es Salaam versus $440 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 13% 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 $23.00 in Mandaue. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $206 – 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 17%, 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 $1,079 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,263 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.

Kindergarten costs $564 per month in Dar es Salaam and $136 in Mandaue. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $720, than in Mandaue at $842. 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.