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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $877 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $40.49 in Tanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $58.0 in Tanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,941 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $74.6 in Tanga, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 2065% more than Tanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Tanga are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Tanga 97% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 TZS 7,431

$1.51 TZS 3,946

88.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.20 TZS 50.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 TZS 20.0K

$3.40 TZS 8,882

125.00%

Cappuccino

$2.02 TZS 5,274

$0.57 TZS 1,476

254.39%

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

$0.35 TZS 922

$0.30 TZS 775

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 628

$0.37 TZS 976

-35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 TZS 2,839

$0.93 TZS 2,434

17.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 TZS 5,005

$1.13 TZS 2,955

69.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 TZS 2,672

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,051

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 TZS 2,826

Eggs

$2.08 TZS 5,438

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 TZS 24.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 TZS 14.8K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.28 TZS 11.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 TZS 6,720

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,749

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,663

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,699

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,506

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

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

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

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

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

$10.67 TZS 27.8K

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

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

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

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 Tanga: June 8, 2026

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 Tanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 2065%, 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 $1,315 per month in Dar es Salaam and $60.7 in Tanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tanga, where all-in costs run around $40.49, than in Dar es Salaam at $877. In Tanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tanga – 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 Tanga. 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.