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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $858 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dar es Salaam and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 36% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 TZS 7,158

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-53.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.48 TZS 50.6K

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-40.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 TZS 19.7K

$7.43 COP 23.7K

2.15%

Cappuccino

$2.01 TZS 5,234

$1.65 COP 5,276

21.82%

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

$0.36 TZS 927

$1.10 COP 3,514

-67.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 624

$0.78 COP 2,491

-69.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,791

$1.72 COP 5,484

-37.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,056

$3.18 COP 10.1K

-38.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,759

$1.10 COP 3,521

-3.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,046

$1.26 COP 4,015

-37.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,844

$1.38 COP 4,407

-21.01%

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,145

$2.18 COP 6,950

-9.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.3K

$4.49 COP 14.3K

108.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.93 TZS 15.4K

$5.79 COP 18.5K

2.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 TZS 11.1K

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-52.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 TZS 6,719

$2.32 COP 7,405

11.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,637

$1.06 COP 3,397

-4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,663

$1.52 COP 4,838

-32.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,720

$1.36 COP 4,327

-22.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,499

$1.13 COP 3,599

-15.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,109

$1.17 COP 3,738

35.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 TZS 2,158

$0.90 COP 2,876

-7.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,050

$0.90 COP 2,861

-55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,226

$2.23 COP 7,128

-9.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.81 TZS 17.7K

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-43.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 TZS 2,500

$1.19 COP 3,793

-19.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,203

$2.48 COP 7,920

-34.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 622

$0.85 COP 2,723

-71.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.21 TZS 44.7K

$41.62 COP 132.8K

-58.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 TZS 3,736

$1.42 COP 4,518

1.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,029

$1.95 COP 6,223

-20.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.31 TZS 34.6K

$7.89 COP 25.2K

68.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,233

$0.99 COP 3,160

25.25%

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

$16.8K TZS 43.7M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

-4.52%

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

$17.2K TZS 44.7M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

-35.78%

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

$96.3 TZS 250.4K

$83.0 COP 264.9K

16.05%

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

$10.72 TZS 27.9K

$9.70 COP 30.9K

10.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.60 TZS 84.7K

$23.52 COP 75.0K

38.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 248.7K

$25.26 COP 80.6K

278.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

$19.10 COP 60.9K

-75.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

$3.95 COP 12.6K

18.73%

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

$256 TZS 664.4K

$316 COP 1.0M

-19.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

$5,975 COP 19.1M

223.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 66.9K

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-57.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 TZS 112.0K

$31.82 COP 101.5K

35.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.89 TZS 119.3K

$102 COP 324.4K

-54.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 TZS 219.5K

$107 COP 342.8K

-21.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 TZS 1.5M

$475 COP 1.5M

22.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 TZS 671.1K

$374 COP 1.2M

-30.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

$849 COP 2.7M

57.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 TZS 1.7M

$719 COP 2.3M

-8.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,514 TZS 3.9M

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-53.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,096 TZS 2.8M

$1,441 COP 4.6M

-23.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 TZS 722.6K

$624 COP 2.0M

-55.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

13.43

46.46%

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $581 in Dar es Salaam versus $475 in Medellin. 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 125% higher in Medellin, 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 $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $193 – 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,287 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,504 in Medellin. 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 $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Medellin, 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 $858, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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.

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