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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $858 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,399 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,940 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Medellin costs about 17% more than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Dar es Salaam 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$2.75 TZS 7,158

114.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$19.48 TZS 50.6K

69.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$7.59 TZS 19.7K

-2.11%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$2.01 TZS 5,234

-17.91%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.36 TZS 927

205.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.24 TZS 624

225.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$1.07 TZS 2,791

60.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$1.95 TZS 5,056

63.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.06 TZS 2,759

3.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.79 TZS 2,046

59.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.09 TZS 2,844

26.61%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$1.98 TZS 5,145

10.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$9.35 TZS 24.3K

-51.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$5.93 TZS 15.4K

-2.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$4.27 TZS 11.1K

110.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$2.59 TZS 6,719

-10.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.01 TZS 2,637

4.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$1.02 TZS 2,663

49.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.05 TZS 2,720

29.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$0.96 TZS 2,499

17.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$1.58 TZS 4,109

-25.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$0.83 TZS 2,158

8.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.40 TZS 1,050

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$2.01 TZS 5,226

10.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$6.81 TZS 17.7K

77.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$0.96 TZS 2,500

23.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$1.62 TZS 4,203

53.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.24 TZS 622

254.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$17.21 TZS 44.7K

141.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$1.44 TZS 3,736

-1.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$1.55 TZS 4,029

25.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$13.31 TZS 34.6K

-40.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.24 TZS 3,233

-20.16%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$16.8K TZS 43.7M

4.73%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$17.2K TZS 44.7M

55.71%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$96.3 TZS 250.4K

-13.83%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$10.72 TZS 27.9K

-9.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$32.60 TZS 84.7K

-27.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$95.7 TZS 248.7K

-73.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

307.25%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

-15.78%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$256 TZS 664.4K

23.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

-69.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$25.75 TZS 66.9K

133.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$43.11 TZS 112.0K

-26.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$45.89 TZS 119.3K

121.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$84.4 TZS 219.5K

27.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$581 TZS 1.5M

-18.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$258 TZS 671.1K

44.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

-36.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$661 TZS 1.7M

8.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$1,514 TZS 3.9M

115.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$1,096 TZS 2.8M

31.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$278 TZS 722.6K

124.58%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $581 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 125% 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: $193 vs $166 – 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 17%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,287 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 $316 per month in Medellin and $256 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 17% 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 $858, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.