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 $703 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,102 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,501 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 57% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dar es Salaam sits 49% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.85 TZS 4,870

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-76.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 TZS 49.4K

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-61.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 TZS 22.2K

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-10.19%

Cappuccino

$1.89 TZS 4,957

$2.94 COP 9,040

-35.71%

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

$0.35 TZS 915

$1.86 COP 5,735

-81.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 579

$1.46 COP 4,479

-84.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 TZS 2,456

$3.21 COP 9,882

-71.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 TZS 4,837

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-67.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 TZS 2,077

$1.44 COP 4,428

-45.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 TZS 1,605

$2.40 COP 7,389

-74.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,860

$1.70 COP 5,228

-35.88%

Eggs

$1.92 TZS 5,042

$2.89 COP 8,896

-33.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.6K

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-7.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-53.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.02 TZS 10.6K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-71.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 TZS 6,621

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-36.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,660

$1.58 COP 4,878

-36.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,614

$2.15 COP 6,624

-53.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,758

$2.30 COP 7,078

-54.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,434

$2.00 COP 6,169

-53.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,663

$1.51 COP 4,646

-33.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 TZS 2,139

$1.20 COP 3,701

-32.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 TZS 933

$1.28 COP 3,946

-72.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,044

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-40.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 TZS 18.2K

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-50.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 TZS 2,215

$1.71 COP 5,256

-50.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 TZS 4,121

$2.74 COP 8,440

-42.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 626

$1.25 COP 3,834

-80.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.67 TZS 38.6K

$77.9 COP 239.7K

-81.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 TZS 4,366

$1.31 COP 4,016

26.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 TZS 4,017

$2.17 COP 6,680

-29.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.46 TZS 35.4K

$8.29 COP 25.5K

62.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 TZS 3,494

$1.36 COP 4,172

-2.21%

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

$16.7K TZS 43.8M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

-39.31%

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

$26.5K TZS 69.6M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-27.56%

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

$56.2 TZS 147.7K

$169 COP 519.2K

-66.70%

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

$9.00 TZS 23.6K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

-33.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.47 TZS 90.6K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

21.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.5 TZS 219.5K

$45.71 COP 140.7K

82.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.09 TZS 21.3K

$17.22 COP 53.0K

-53.02%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 TZS 13.7K

$6.65 COP 20.5K

-21.50%

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

$577 TZS 1.5M

$803 COP 2.5M

-28.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K TZS 34.6M

$9,190 COP 28.3M

43.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.39 TZS 37.8K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-83.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.26 TZS 69.0K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-55.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.87 TZS 118.0K

$139 COP 427.5K

-67.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.7 TZS 172.7K

$102 COP 314.0K

-35.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$605 TZS 1.6M

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-43.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 TZS 519.3K

$653 COP 2.0M

-69.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-28.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 TZS 1.2M

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-57.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,540 TZS 4.0M

$4,123 COP 12.7M

-62.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,076 TZS 2.8M

$1,697 COP 5.2M

-36.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 TZS 743.9K

$655 COP 2.0M

-56.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

10.94

66.82%

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: September 5, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $605 in Dar es Salaam versus $1,071 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 131% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $300 – 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 133%, 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 $1,055 per month in Dar es Salaam and $2,462 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 $577 per month in Dar es Salaam and $803 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 99% 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 $703, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.