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 $700 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $240 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,125 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $416 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,550 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $591 in Moshi, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 192% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dar es Salaam and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 49% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.84 TZS 4,847

$2.97 TZS 7,796

-38.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.61 TZS 48.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 TZS 23.0K

Cappuccino

$1.90 TZS 4,985

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

$0.34 TZS 907

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 TZS 525

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 TZS 2,440

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 TZS 5,012

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 TZS 2,290

$0.59 TZS 1,559

47.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 TZS 1,617

$0.72 TZS 1,901

-13.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,749

$1.30 TZS 3,413

-19.23%

Eggs

$1.94 TZS 5,112

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 TZS 25.3K

$8.26 TZS 21.7K

16.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 TZS 12.6K

$3.76 TZS 9,894

27.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.04 TZS 10.6K

$3.11 TZS 8,177

29.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,760

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,804

$0.37 TZS 961

189.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,482

$1.48 TZS 3,894

-36.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,609

$0.79 TZS 2,072

25.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,276

$0.73 TZS 1,920

19.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,660

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 TZS 2,161

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 TZS 1,016

$0.36 TZS 952

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,037

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 TZS 18.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,329

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 TZS 4,157

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 685

$0.78 TZS 2,044

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.61 TZS 38.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 TZS 4,280

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 TZS 4,005

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.07 TZS 34.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 TZS 3,488

$1.24 TZS 3,250

7.26%

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

$16.7K TZS 43.9M

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

$25.7K TZS 67.6M

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

$57.7 TZS 151.7K

$115 TZS 303.4K

-50.00%

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

$9.09 TZS 23.9K

$3.86 TZS 10.1K

135.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.07 TZS 92.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.4 TZS 211.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.99 TZS 21.0K

Cinema Ticket

$5.24 TZS 13.8K

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

$570 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K TZS 34.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.26 TZS 37.5K

$18.65 TZS 49.0K

-23.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 TZS 68.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.46 TZS 116.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.4 TZS 174.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 TZS 538.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 TZS 3.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 TZS 1.1M

$187 TZS 492.7K

129.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,515 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,050 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 TZS 723.8K

$95.8 TZS 252.0K

187.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Moshi: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 187% 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 192%, 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 $1,050 per month in Dar es Salaam and $360 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $700 in Dar es Salaam and $240 in Moshi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 71% 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 $240, than in Dar es Salaam at $700. 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.