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 $861 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $143 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,382 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $220 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,904 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $298 in Mwanza, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 504% 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

$2.85 TZS 7,423

$2.53 TZS 6,597

12.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.28 TZS 50.3K

$15.15 TZS 39.5K

27.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 TZS 20.4K

$4.58 TZS 12.0K

70.96%

Cappuccino

$2.02 TZS 5,264

$2.79 TZS 7,278

-27.60%

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

$0.35 TZS 923

$0.28 TZS 725

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 573

$0.30 TZS 790

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,709

$0.94 TZS 2,441

10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,119

$1.37 TZS 3,572

43.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 TZS 2,665

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,164

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 TZS 2,963

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,145

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.36 TZS 24.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 TZS 15.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 TZS 11.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 TZS 6,598

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,757

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,790

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,719

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,434

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 TZS 3,953

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,229

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 TZS 5,185

Wine (Bottle)

$7.01 TZS 18.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 TZS 2,398

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 TZS 4,199

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 620

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.14 TZS 44.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 TZS 3,738

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,932

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.68 TZS 35.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,239

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

$16.8K TZS 43.9M

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

$17.4K TZS 45.5M

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

$97.0 TZS 253.0K

$68.8 TZS 179.4K

41.01%

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

$10.63 TZS 27.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.60 TZS 82.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.6 TZS 244.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.78 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 TZS 12.7K

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

$254 TZS 663.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.1K TZS 49.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.77 TZS 67.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.22 TZS 112.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.54 TZS 121.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.5 TZS 217.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 TZS 683.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 TZS 3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$648 TZS 1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,502 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,095 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$281 TZS 734.0K

$193 TZS 503.1K

45.89%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 46% 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 504%, 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 $1,291 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 $861 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 $861. 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.