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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $858 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,191 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,856 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,522 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 28% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dar es Salaam and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 36% lower, Tbilisi 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 TZS 7,241

$10.91 ₾28.56

-74.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.48 TZS 51.2K

$43.19 ₾113

-54.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 TZS 20.0K

$8.53 ₾22.31

-11.02%

Cappuccino

$2.01 TZS 5,295

$2.99 ₾7.81

-32.78%

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

$0.36 TZS 937

$0.81 ₾2.12

-55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 631

$0.42 ₾1.09

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,823

$2.16 ₾5.65

-50.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,114

$2.88 ₾7.52

-32.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,791

$1.94 ₾5.08

-45.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,070

$0.68 ₾1.77

16.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,876

$1.85 ₾4.83

-41.08%

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,205

$2.53 ₾6.62

-21.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.6K

$7.53 ₾19.69

24.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.93 TZS 15.6K

$6.26 ₾16.39

-5.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 TZS 11.2K

$9.59 ₾25.09

-55.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 TZS 6,797

$1.16 ₾3.04

123.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,668

$1.64 ₾4.29

-38.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,693

$1.88 ₾4.93

-45.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,751

$2.23 ₾5.84

-52.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,528

$0.70 ₾1.83

37.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,156

$0.64 ₾1.68

146.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 TZS 2,183

$1.18 ₾3.09

-29.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,062

$0.70 ₾1.83

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,286

$2.97 ₾7.78

-32.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.81 TZS 17.9K

$7.43 ₾19.45

-8.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 TZS 2,529

$1.54 ₾4.03

-37.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,252

$2.28 ₾5.98

-28.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 629

$0.36 ₾0.93

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.21 TZS 45.2K

$14.73 ₾38.54

16.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 TZS 3,779

$1.42 ₾3.71

1.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,076

$0.69 ₾1.81

124.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.31 TZS 35.0K

$7.27 ₾19.02

83.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,270

$1.09 ₾2.86

13.76%

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

$16.8K TZS 44.2M

$18.3K ₾47.9K

-8.28%

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

$17.2K TZS 45.2M

$20.5K ₾53.6K

-15.98%

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

$96.3 TZS 253.3K

$74.4 ₾195

29.56%

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

$10.72 TZS 28.2K

$11.71 ₾30.63

-8.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.60 TZS 85.7K

$17.60 ₾46.06

85.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 251.6K

$60.3 ₾158

58.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.69 TZS 12.3K

$16.29 ₾42.63

-71.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 TZS 12.3K

$6.51 ₾17.03

-27.96%

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

$256 TZS 672.1K

$269 ₾704

-5.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.9M

$5,154 ₾13.5K

275.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 67.7K

$77.1 ₾202

-66.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 TZS 113.3K

$43.48 ₾114

-0.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.89 TZS 120.7K

$118 ₾310

-61.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 TZS 222.0K

$113 ₾295

-25.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 TZS 1.5M

$709 ₾1,856

-18.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 TZS 678.8K

$465 ₾1,215

-44.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

$1,316 ₾3,442

1.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 TZS 1.7M

$767 ₾2,007

-13.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,514 TZS 4.0M

$2,492 ₾6,522

-39.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,096 TZS 2.9M

$1,442 ₾3,773

-23.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 TZS 731.0K

$663 ₾1,735

-58.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

11.89

65.43%

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 Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $581 in Dar es Salaam versus $709 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 138% higher in Tbilisi, 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $204 – making Dar es Salaam 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 Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,787 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dar es Salaam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $256 per month in Dar es Salaam and $269 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $858, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dar es Salaam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dar es Salaam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.