Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Moshi

For one person, living is cheaper in Moshi: $247 a month against $701 in Dar es Salaam, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Moshi, Tanzania
Dar es Salaam
🇹🇿 Tanzania
$701
/mo nomad
Moshi
🇹🇿 Tanzania
$247
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dar es Salaam and in Moshi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dar es Salaam and in Moshi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $701 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $247 in Moshi, rent included.

  • Dar es Salaam $701
  • Moshi $247

A couple spends around $1,114 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $427 in Moshi, rent included.

  • Dar es Salaam $1,114
  • Moshi $427

A family of three spends $1,527 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $607 in Moshi, rent included.

  • Dar es Salaam $1,527
  • Moshi $607

Dar es Salaam costs about 184% more than Moshi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Dar es Salaam and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 48% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.85 TZS 4,854
$2.96 TZS 7,778
-37.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.91 TZS 49.7K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 TZS 19.8K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.93 TZS 5,069
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 TZS 981
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 TZS 525
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.91 TZS 2,397
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 TZS 4,938
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 TZS 2,219
$0.56 TZS 1,470
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.61 TZS 1,601
$0.78 TZS 2,044
-21.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 TZS 2,888
$1.28 TZS 3,377
-14.06%
Eggs
$1.94 TZS 5,105
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 TZS 24.5K
$8.45 TZS 22.2K
10.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.90 TZS 12.9K
$3.89 TZS 10.2K
25.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.96 TZS 10.4K
$3.09 TZS 8,117
28.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 TZS 6,504
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 TZS 2,803
$0.40 TZS 1,040
167.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 TZS 2,691
$1.47 TZS 3,868
-30.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 TZS 2,387
$0.80 TZS 2,097
13.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 TZS 2,510
$0.74 TZS 1,945
28.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 TZS 2,707
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.82 TZS 2,168
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 TZS 1,013
$0.40 TZS 1,040
-2.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02 TZS 5,322
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 TZS 18.4K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 TZS 2,289
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 TZS 4,209
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 TZS 628
$0.80 TZS 2,097
-70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.01 TZS 39.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.70 TZS 4,462
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 TZS 4,084
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.48 TZS 35.4K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 TZS 3,675
$1.19 TZS 3,123
17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.0K TZS 44.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K TZS 68.8M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.6 TZS 151.3K
$116 TZS 303.8K
-50.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.92 TZS 23.4K
$3.88 TZS 10.2K
129.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.59 TZS 90.9K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$83.5 TZS 219.6K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.19 TZS 26.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.21 TZS 13.7K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 TZS 1.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K TZS 37.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.19 TZS 39.9K
$18.84 TZS 49.5K
-19.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.19 TZS 68.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.57 TZS 114.5K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.4 TZS 156.1K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$533 TZS 1.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$191 TZS 502.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 TZS 3.6M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$441 TZS 1.2M
$189 TZS 497.1K
132.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,504 TZS 4.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,091 TZS 2.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dar es Salaam
Moshi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$284 TZS 745.6K
$94.0 TZS 247.1K
201.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.25
0
-

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: November 2, 2026

Last update for Moshi: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dar es Salaam
$191
Moshi
–
Groceries & Markets
Dar es Salaam
$153
Moshi
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dar es Salaam
$101
Moshi
–
Sport & Entertainment
Dar es Salaam
$94
Moshi
–
Eating Out
Dar es Salaam
$71
Moshi
–
Clothing & Footwear
Dar es Salaam
$65
Moshi
–
Getting Around
Dar es Salaam
$25
Moshi
–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Dar es Salaam are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇹🇿 Dar es Salaam
🇹🇿 Moshi
🕒 Local time
06:20 6:20 AM
06:20 6:20 AM
Same time as Dar es Salaam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,383,728
221,733
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to TZS – Tanzanian Shilling Converter

Tanzanian Shilling exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 2,629 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD). 1 EUR = 2,951 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.39 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dar es Salaam Moshi 440 km
From you
  • Dar es Salaam
  • Moshi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Moshi cheaper than Dar es Salaam?
Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 184%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,051 per month in Dar es Salaam and $370 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Dar es Salaam and in Moshi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $701 in Dar es Salaam and $247 in Moshi. That makes Moshi about 65% cheaper.
How do food prices compare in Dar es Salaam and in Moshi?
Groceries cost about 67% more in Dar es Salaam, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 enough for either Dar es Salaam or Moshi?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $701 in Dar es Salaam and $247 in Moshi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Dar es Salaam or in Moshi?
It depends on your priorities. Dar es Salaam has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $247 in Moshi to $701 in Dar es Salaam. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Moshi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dar es Salaam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Dar es Salaam vs other spots: cost of living compared

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