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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $243 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,393 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $425 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $606 in Moshi, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 258% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dar es Salaam and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 TZS 7,271

$3.08 TZS 8,037

-9.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 TZS 50.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.7K

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,095

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

$0.39 TZS 1,012

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 572

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,802

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,080

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 TZS 2,813

$0.57 TZS 1,477

89.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,126

$0.73 TZS 1,913

10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 TZS 2,936

$1.36 TZS 3,551

-17.65%

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,155

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 TZS 24.7K

$8.74 TZS 22.8K

8.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TZS 15.2K

$3.77 TZS 9,849

54.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 TZS 11.4K

$3.16 TZS 8,243

38.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,821

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,746

$0.40 TZS 1,055

162.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,752

$1.54 TZS 4,014

-31.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,724

$0.74 TZS 1,936

40.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,462

$0.80 TZS 2,097

17.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 4,002

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,369

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 TZS 1,147

$0.40 TZS 1,052

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 TZS 5,333

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 TZS 16.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,523

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,240

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 679

$0.40 TZS 1,053

-35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.10 TZS 44.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,884

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,930

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 TZS 35.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,271

$1.23 TZS 3,204

1.63%

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

$16.8K TZS 43.8M

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

$17.2K TZS 44.9M

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

$98.3 TZS 256.6K

$116 TZS 302.2K

-15.08%

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

$10.90 TZS 28.5K

$3.85 TZS 10.1K

183.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 TZS 83.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 249.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 TZS 12.4K

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

$253 TZS 660.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 67.2K

$19.54 TZS 51.0K

31.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 TZS 109.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 TZS 120.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 TZS 223.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 668.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 TZS 1.7M

$190 TZS 495.2K

240.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 TZS 687.7K

$97.9 TZS 255.7K

168.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

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 Moshi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 169% higher in Dar es Salaam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Moshi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 258%, 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 $365 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $871 in Dar es Salaam and $243 in Moshi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Dar es Salaam, 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 Moshi, where all-in costs run around $243, than in Dar es Salaam at $871. In Moshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Moshi – 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 Moshi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dar es Salaam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.