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 $858 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $143 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $220 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $297 in Mwanza, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 500% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 36% lower, Mwanza 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 TZS 7,241

$2.55 TZS 6,699

7.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.48 TZS 51.2K

$15.48 TZS 40.7K

25.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 TZS 20.0K

$4.52 TZS 11.9K

67.92%

Cappuccino

$2.01 TZS 5,295

$2.77 TZS 7,273

-27.44%

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

$0.36 TZS 937

$0.28 TZS 733

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 631

$0.28 TZS 732

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,823

$0.96 TZS 2,512

11.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,114

$1.38 TZS 3,634

41.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,791

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,070

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,876

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,205

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.93 TZS 15.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 TZS 11.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 TZS 6,797

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,668

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,693

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,751

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,528

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

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

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

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

$66.7 TZS 175.4K

44.38%

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

$10.72 TZS 28.2K

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

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

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

$193 TZS 508.0K

43.90%

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 Mwanza: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 44% 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 500%, 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 $1,287 per month in Dar es Salaam and $214 in Mwanza. 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 $143 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 $143, than in Dar es Salaam at $858. 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.