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 $700 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $190 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,125 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $294 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,550 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $398 in Mwanza, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 269% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 49% lower, Mwanza 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.84 TZS 4,847

$2.48 TZS 6,509

-25.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.61 TZS 48.9K

$14.85 TZS 39.0K

25.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 TZS 23.0K

$4.50 TZS 11.8K

94.44%

Cappuccino

$1.90 TZS 4,985

$2.62 TZS 6,883

-27.48%

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

$0.34 TZS 907

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 TZS 525

$0.27 TZS 700

-25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 TZS 2,440

$0.97 TZS 2,542

-4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 TZS 5,012

$1.29 TZS 3,383

48.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 TZS 2,290

$0.93 TZS 2,438

-6.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 TZS 1,617

$1.49 TZS 3,925

-58.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,749

$0.98 TZS 2,572

7.14%

Eggs

$1.94 TZS 5,112

$2.12 TZS 5,582

-8.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 TZS 25.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 TZS 12.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.04 TZS 10.6K

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,760

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,804

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,482

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,609

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,276

$0.96 TZS 2,533

-9.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,660

$1.29 TZS 3,379

-21.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 TZS 2,161

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 TZS 1,016

$0.37 TZS 972

5.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,037

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 TZS 18.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,329

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 TZS 4,157

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 685

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.61 TZS 38.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 TZS 4,280

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 TZS 4,005

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.07 TZS 34.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 TZS 3,488

$1.55 TZS 4,079

-14.19%

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

$16.7K TZS 43.9M

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

$25.7K TZS 67.6M

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

$57.7 TZS 151.7K

$65.0 TZS 170.9K

-11.23%

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

$9.09 TZS 23.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.07 TZS 92.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.4 TZS 211.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.99 TZS 21.0K

Cinema Ticket

$5.24 TZS 13.8K

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

$570 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K TZS 34.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.26 TZS 37.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 TZS 68.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.46 TZS 116.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.4 TZS 174.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 TZS 538.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 TZS 3.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 TZS 1.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,515 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,050 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 TZS 723.8K

$187 TZS 492.8K

46.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 47% 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. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $154 vs $47.00 – making Mwanza the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 269%, 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 $1,050 per month in Dar es Salaam and $285 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 231% 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 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 $190, than in Dar es Salaam at $700. 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.