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 $871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,393 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 16% 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 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 TZS 7,210

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-52.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 TZS 50.2K

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-40.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.5K

$7.20 COP 26.0K

10.14%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,053

$1.70 COP 6,140

14.71%

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

$0.39 TZS 1,003

$1.10 COP 3,966

-64.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 568

$0.72 COP 2,605

-69.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,778

$1.67 COP 6,022

-35.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,038

$3.10 COP 11.2K

-37.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 TZS 2,790

$1.06 COP 3,809

1.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,108

$1.25 COP 4,497

-35.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 TZS 2,911

$1.39 COP 5,022

-19.42%

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,112

$2.26 COP 8,168

-12.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 TZS 24.5K

$4.33 COP 15.6K

118.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TZS 15.1K

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-0.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 TZS 11.3K

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-50.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,764

$2.24 COP 8,099

16.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,724

$1.08 COP 3,882

-2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,729

$1.53 COP 5,522

-31.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,702

$1.37 COP 4,950

-24.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,441

$1.13 COP 4,078

-16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 3,968

$1.12 COP 4,036

36.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,350

$0.85 COP 3,057

7.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 TZS 1,138

$0.91 COP 3,281

-51.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 TZS 5,289

$2.33 COP 8,414

-12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 TZS 16.7K

$11.13 COP 40.2K

-42.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,502

$1.19 COP 4,309

-18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,205

$2.37 COP 8,553

-31.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 673

$0.79 COP 2,838

-67.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.10 TZS 44.3K

$41.13 COP 148.5K

-58.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,852

$1.44 COP 5,184

3.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,897

$1.91 COP 6,901

-20.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 TZS 34.8K

$8.02 COP 28.9K

67.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,244

$0.94 COP 3,385

32.98%

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

$16.8K TZS 43.5M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

-6.30%

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

$17.2K TZS 44.6M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

-35.77%

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

$98.3 TZS 254.5K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

17.09%

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

$10.90 TZS 28.2K

$9.60 COP 34.7K

13.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 TZS 82.7K

$24.16 COP 87.2K

32.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 247.7K

$25.88 COP 93.4K

269.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 TZS 12.4K

$19.04 COP 68.7K

-74.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 TZS 12.3K

$3.92 COP 14.1K

21.17%

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

$253 TZS 655.0K

$306 COP 1.1M

-17.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 49.9M

$5,919 COP 21.4M

225.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 66.7K

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-55.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 TZS 108.1K

$31.82 COP 114.9K

31.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 TZS 119.7K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-53.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 TZS 221.8K

$107 COP 386.8K

-20.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 TZS 1.5M

$487 COP 1.8M

21.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 663.1K

$368 COP 1.3M

-30.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

$826 COP 3.0M

57.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 TZS 1.7M

$716 COP 2.6M

-9.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 TZS 3.9M

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-47.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-21.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 TZS 681.9K

$546 COP 2.0M

-51.71%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $592 in Dar es Salaam versus $487 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 107% 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: $167 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 19%, 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 $1,307 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,550 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 $253 per month in Dar es Salaam and $306 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $871, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.