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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $146 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,393 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $223 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $300 in Mwanza, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 496% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Mwanza 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 TZS 7,210

$2.45 TZS 6,346

13.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 TZS 50.2K

$15.48 TZS 40.1K

25.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.5K

$4.78 TZS 12.4K

65.90%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,053

$2.70 TZS 6,984

-27.78%

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

$0.39 TZS 1,003

$0.30 TZS 782

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 568

$0.28 TZS 716

-21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,778

$0.93 TZS 2,406

15.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,038

$1.32 TZS 3,418

47.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 TZS 2,790

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,108

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 TZS 2,911

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,112

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 TZS 24.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TZS 15.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 TZS 11.3K

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,764

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,724

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,729

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,702

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,441

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 3,968

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,350

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 TZS 1,138

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 TZS 5,289

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 TZS 16.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,502

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,205

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 673

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.10 TZS 44.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,852

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,897

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 TZS 34.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,244

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

$16.8K TZS 43.5M

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

$17.2K TZS 44.6M

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

$98.3 TZS 254.5K

$66.8 TZS 172.8K

47.26%

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

$10.90 TZS 28.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 TZS 82.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 247.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 TZS 12.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 TZS 12.3K

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

$253 TZS 655.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 49.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 66.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 TZS 108.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 TZS 119.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 TZS 221.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 663.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 TZS 1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 TZS 681.9K

$192 TZS 496.1K

37.45%

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 Mwanza: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 37% higher in Dar es Salaam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $15.00 in Mwanza. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Mwanza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 496%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $219 in Mwanza. 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 $146 in Mwanza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam and $15.00 in Mwanza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mwanza, where all-in costs run around $146, than in Dar es Salaam at $871. In Mwanza it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mwanza – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mwanza. 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.