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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $243 per month in Moshi vs $871 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $425 per month in Moshi vs $1,393 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $606 per month in Moshi vs $1,914 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Moshi is about 72% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Moshi and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Moshi 82% lower, Dar es Salaam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 TZS 8,037

$2.79 TZS 7,271

10.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 TZS 50.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.7K

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,095

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

$0.39 TZS 1,012

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 572

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,802

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,080

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 TZS 1,477

$1.08 TZS 2,813

-47.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,913

$0.81 TZS 2,126

-9.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 TZS 3,551

$1.12 TZS 2,936

21.43%

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,155

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 TZS 22.8K

$9.46 TZS 24.7K

-7.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,849

$5.83 TZS 15.2K

-35.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.16 TZS 8,243

$4.37 TZS 11.4K

-27.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,821

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 TZS 1,055

$1.05 TZS 2,746

-61.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 TZS 4,014

$1.05 TZS 2,752

46.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,936

$1.04 TZS 2,724

-28.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,097

$0.94 TZS 2,462

-14.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 4,002

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,369

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,052

$0.44 TZS 1,147

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 TZS 5,333

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 TZS 16.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,523

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,240

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,053

$0.26 TZS 679

53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.10 TZS 44.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,884

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,930

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 TZS 35.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,204

$1.25 TZS 3,271

-1.60%

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)

$17.2K TZS 44.9M

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

$116 TZS 302.2K

$98.3 TZS 256.6K

17.76%

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

$3.85 TZS 10.1K

$10.90 TZS 28.5K

-64.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 TZS 83.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 249.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 TZS 12.4K

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

$253 TZS 660.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.54 TZS 51.0K

$25.75 TZS 67.2K

-24.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 TZS 109.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 TZS 120.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 TZS 223.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 668.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 TZS 495.2K

$646 TZS 1.7M

-70.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$97.9 TZS 255.7K

$263 TZS 687.7K

-62.82%

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 Moshi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 169% higher in Dar es Salaam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

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

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 258%, 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 $365 per month in Moshi and $1,307 in Dar es Salaam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $243 in Moshi and $871 in Dar es Salaam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Dar es Salaam, 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 Moshi, where all-in costs run around $243, than in Dar es Salaam at $871. In Moshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Moshi – 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 Moshi. 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.