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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $877 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,409 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,941 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Medellin costs about 16% more than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Dar es Salaam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.85 TZS 7,431

108.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$19.20 TZS 50.1K

73.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.65 TZS 20.0K

-5.49%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.02 TZS 5,274

-19.31%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.35 TZS 922

211.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.24 TZS 628

204.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.09 TZS 2,839

59.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.92 TZS 5,005

68.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.02 TZS 2,672

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.79 TZS 2,051

63.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.08 TZS 2,826

22.22%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.08 TZS 5,438

9.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$9.33 TZS 24.3K

-53.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.69 TZS 14.8K

3.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$4.28 TZS 11.2K

101.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.58 TZS 6,720

-12.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.05 TZS 2,749

1.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.02 TZS 2,663

49.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.03 TZS 2,699

37.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.96 TZS 2,506

21.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.50 TZS 3,926

-22.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.90 TZS 2,339

-1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.40 TZS 1,053

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.05 TZS 5,345

9.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.91 TZS 18.0K

59.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.90 TZS 2,342

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.65 TZS 4,309

44.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.24 TZS 622

250.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$17.36 TZS 45.3K

141.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.47 TZS 3,843

-4.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.50 TZS 3,908

26.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$13.64 TZS 35.6K

-43.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.21 TZS 3,154

-16.53%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$17.0K TZS 44.4M

3.40%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$17.5K TZS 45.5M

51.79%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$98.3 TZS 256.4K

-14.85%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$10.67 TZS 27.8K

-11.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$32.44 TZS 84.6K

-25.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$95.6 TZS 249.5K

-73.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$4.90 TZS 12.8K

290.61%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$4.93 TZS 12.9K

-16.84%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$255 TZS 664.1K

22.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$18.9K TZS 49.4M

-68.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$26.15 TZS 68.2K

121.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$42.61 TZS 111.2K

-23.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$46.76 TZS 122.0K

113.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$83.0 TZS 216.6K

30.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$579 TZS 1.5M

-16.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$257 TZS 669.8K

47.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,291 TZS 3.4M

-35.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$654 TZS 1.7M

10.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,521 TZS 4.0M

86.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

10.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$282 TZS 736.2K

91.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

19.67

-31.72%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $579 in Dar es Salaam. 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 92% higher in Medellin, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $164 – 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

Medellin vs Dar es Salaam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,315 in Dar es Salaam. 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 $312 per month in Medellin and $255 in Dar es Salaam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Medellin, 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 $877, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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.

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