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 $877 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $248 in Moshi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $429 in Moshi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,941 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $609 in Moshi, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 253% 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

$2.85 TZS 7,431

$3.05 TZS 7,948

-6.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.20 TZS 50.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 TZS 20.0K

Cappuccino

$2.02 TZS 5,274

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

$0.35 TZS 922

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 628

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 TZS 2,839

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 TZS 5,005

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 TZS 2,672

$0.56 TZS 1,454

82.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,051

$0.75 TZS 1,962

5.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 TZS 2,826

$1.32 TZS 3,436

-18.18%

Eggs

$2.08 TZS 5,438

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 TZS 24.3K

$8.72 TZS 22.7K

7.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 TZS 14.8K

$3.81 TZS 9,943

49.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.28 TZS 11.2K

$3.07 TZS 8,002

39.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 TZS 6,720

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,749

$0.40 TZS 1,055

162.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,663

$1.58 TZS 4,133

-35.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,699

$0.75 TZS 1,967

37.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,506

$0.78 TZS 2,042

23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,926

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 TZS 2,339

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,053

$0.40 TZS 1,045

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 TZS 5,345

Wine (Bottle)

$6.91 TZS 18.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 TZS 2,342

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 TZS 4,309

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 622

$0.40 TZS 1,056

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.36 TZS 45.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,843

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 TZS 3,908

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.64 TZS 35.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 TZS 3,154

$1.25 TZS 3,268

-3.20%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.4M

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

$17.5K TZS 45.5M

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

$98.3 TZS 256.4K

$118 TZS 307.8K

-16.71%

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

$10.67 TZS 27.8K

$3.92 TZS 10.2K

172.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.44 TZS 84.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.6 TZS 249.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.90 TZS 12.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 TZS 12.9K

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

$255 TZS 664.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K TZS 49.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.15 TZS 68.2K

$19.35 TZS 50.5K

35.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.61 TZS 111.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.76 TZS 122.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 TZS 216.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 TZS 669.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,291 TZS 3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 TZS 1.7M

$196 TZS 511.7K

233.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,521 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$282 TZS 736.2K

$95.5 TZS 249.2K

195.47%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Moshi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 195% 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 253%, 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 $1,315 per month in Dar es Salaam and $372 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $877 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 78% 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 $877. 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.