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 $862 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $41 in Tanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,398 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $59 in Tanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,934 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $77 in Tanga, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 2028% more than Tanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Tanga are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 36% lower, Tanga 97% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 TZS 7,267

$1.53 TZS 3,990

82.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.20 TZS 50.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 TZS 20.6K

$3.58 TZS 9,344

120.95%

Cappuccino

$2.03 TZS 5,305

$0.59 TZS 1,552

244.07%

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

$0.39 TZS 1,010

$0.32 TZS 846

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 626

$0.37 TZS 969

-35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,709

$1.00 TZS 2,616

4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 TZS 4,890

$1.14 TZS 2,980

64.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 TZS 2,778

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,160

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 TZS 2,815

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,172

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.47 TZS 24.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.74 TZS 15.0K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.28 TZS 11.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 TZS 6,892

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,775

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,780

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,723

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,502

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,116

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,219

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,060

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 TZS 5,453

Wine (Bottle)

$6.36 TZS 16.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,525

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 TZS 4,357

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 624

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.57 TZS 45.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,831

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 TZS 3,893

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.78 TZS 36.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,257

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

$16.8K TZS 43.8M

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

$16.9K TZS 44.0M

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

$95.3 TZS 248.7K

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

$10.62 TZS 27.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.67 TZS 82.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 249.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.73 TZS 12.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.70 TZS 12.3K

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

$250 TZS 652.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.44 TZS 69.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 TZS 112.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.42 TZS 121.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 TZS 223.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 TZS 681.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 TZS 3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 TZS 1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,549 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$270 TZS 703.0K

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 21, 2026

Last update for Tanga: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $577 in Dar es Salaam versus $0 in Tanga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Dar es Salaam versus $0 in Tanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $0 – making Tanga 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 Tanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 2028%, 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 $1,293 per month in Dar es Salaam and $60.8 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 $40.50, than in Dar es Salaam at $862. 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.