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 $877 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,941 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,188 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 35% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 TZS 7,431

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-52.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.20 TZS 50.1K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-42.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 TZS 20.0K

$7.23 COP 25.2K

5.81%

Cappuccino

$2.02 TZS 5,274

$1.63 COP 5,687

23.93%

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

$0.35 TZS 922

$1.09 COP 3,821

-67.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 628

$0.73 COP 2,548

-67.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 TZS 2,839

$1.74 COP 6,065

-37.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 TZS 5,005

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-40.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 TZS 2,672

$1.05 COP 3,662

-2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,051

$1.29 COP 4,515

-38.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 TZS 2,826

$1.32 COP 4,617

-18.18%

Eggs

$2.08 TZS 5,438

$2.27 COP 7,927

-8.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 TZS 24.3K

$4.35 COP 15.2K

114.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 TZS 14.8K

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-3.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.28 TZS 11.2K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-50.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 TZS 6,720

$2.25 COP 7,844

14.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,749

$1.07 COP 3,733

-1.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,663

$1.52 COP 5,322

-32.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,699

$1.42 COP 4,964

-27.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,506

$1.17 COP 4,084

-17.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,926

$1.17 COP 4,077

28.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 TZS 2,339

$0.89 COP 3,096

1.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,053

$0.90 COP 3,146

-55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 TZS 5,345

$2.25 COP 7,837

-8.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.91 TZS 18.0K

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-37.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 TZS 2,342

$1.14 COP 3,977

-21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 TZS 4,309

$2.38 COP 8,301

-30.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 622

$0.84 COP 2,916

-71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.36 TZS 45.3K

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-58.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,843

$1.41 COP 4,912

4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 TZS 3,908

$1.90 COP 6,634

-21.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.64 TZS 35.6K

$7.75 COP 27.0K

76.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 TZS 3,154

$1.01 COP 3,509

19.80%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.4M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

-3.29%

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

$17.5K TZS 45.5M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-34.12%

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

$98.3 TZS 256.4K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

17.44%

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

$10.67 TZS 27.8K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

12.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.44 TZS 84.6K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

34.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.6 TZS 249.5K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

277.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.90 TZS 12.8K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-74.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 TZS 12.9K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

20.24%

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

$255 TZS 664.1K

$312 COP 1.1M

-18.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K TZS 49.4M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

216.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.15 TZS 68.2K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-54.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.61 TZS 111.2K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

30.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.76 TZS 122.0K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-53.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 TZS 216.6K

$109 COP 378.8K

-23.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 TZS 1.5M

$482 COP 1.7M

19.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 TZS 669.8K

$379 COP 1.3M

-32.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,291 TZS 3.4M

$837 COP 2.9M

54.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 TZS 1.7M

$723 COP 2.5M

-9.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,521 TZS 4.0M

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-46.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-9.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$282 TZS 736.2K

$541 COP 1.9M

-47.83%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $579 in Dar es Salaam versus $482 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 92% 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: $164 vs $190 – 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 16%, 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 $1,315 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,525 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 $255 per month in Dar es Salaam and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $877, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.