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 $858 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $248 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $427 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $606 in Moshi, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 245% more than Moshi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dar es Salaam and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 36% lower, Moshi 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 TZS 7,241

$3.03 TZS 7,959

-9.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.48 TZS 51.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 TZS 20.0K

Cappuccino

$2.01 TZS 5,295

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

$0.36 TZS 937

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 631

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,823

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,114

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,791

$0.59 TZS 1,556

79.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,070

$0.75 TZS 1,962

5.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,876

$1.37 TZS 3,610

-20.44%

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,205

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.6K

$8.37 TZS 22.0K

11.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.93 TZS 15.6K

$3.78 TZS 9,938

56.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 TZS 11.2K

$3.15 TZS 8,290

35.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 TZS 6,797

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,668

$0.40 TZS 1,055

152.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,693

$1.56 TZS 4,107

-34.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,751

$0.79 TZS 2,081

32.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,528

$0.78 TZS 2,063

23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,156

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 TZS 2,183

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,062

$0.41 TZS 1,073

-2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,286

Wine (Bottle)

$6.81 TZS 17.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 TZS 2,529

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,252

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 629

$0.37 TZS 977

-35.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.21 TZS 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 TZS 3,779

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,076

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.31 TZS 35.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,270

$1.23 TZS 3,222

0.81%

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

$16.8K TZS 44.2M

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

$17.2K TZS 45.2M

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

$96.3 TZS 253.3K

$117 TZS 306.8K

-17.46%

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

$10.72 TZS 28.2K

$3.96 TZS 10.4K

170.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.60 TZS 85.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 251.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.69 TZS 12.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 TZS 12.3K

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

$256 TZS 672.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 67.7K

$19.70 TZS 51.8K

30.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 TZS 113.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.89 TZS 120.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 TZS 222.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 TZS 678.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 TZS 1.7M

$192 TZS 505.1K

244.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,514 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,096 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 TZS 731.0K

$95.3 TZS 250.5K

191.82%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Moshi: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 192% 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 245%, 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 $1,287 per month in Dar es Salaam and $373 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $858 in Dar es Salaam and $248 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 $248, than in Dar es Salaam at $858. 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.