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 $240 per month in Moshi vs $700 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $416 per month in Moshi vs $1,125 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $591 per month in Moshi vs $1,550 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Moshi is about 66% 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 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 TZS 7,781

$1.84 TZS 4,838

61.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.61 TZS 48.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 TZS 23.0K

Cappuccino

$1.90 TZS 4,976

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

$0.34 TZS 905

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 TZS 524

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 TZS 2,436

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 TZS 5,003

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 TZS 1,556

$0.87 TZS 2,285

-32.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 TZS 1,897

$0.62 TZS 1,614

16.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 TZS 3,406

$1.05 TZS 2,744

23.81%

Eggs

$1.94 TZS 5,102

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 TZS 21.7K

$9.63 TZS 25.3K

-14.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.76 TZS 9,876

$4.81 TZS 12.6K

-21.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.11 TZS 8,161

$4.04 TZS 10.6K

-23.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,748

Banana (1kg)

$0.37 TZS 959

$1.07 TZS 2,799

-65.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 TZS 3,887

$0.94 TZS 2,477

57.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

$0.99 TZS 2,604

-20.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 TZS 1,916

$0.87 TZS 2,271

-16.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,655

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 TZS 2,157

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 TZS 950

$0.39 TZS 1,014

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,025

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 TZS 18.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,325

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 TZS 4,150

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 TZS 2,040

$0.26 TZS 684

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.61 TZS 38.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 TZS 4,272

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 TZS 3,997

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.07 TZS 34.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,244

$1.33 TZS 3,482

-6.77%

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

$16.7K TZS 43.8M

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

$25.7K TZS 67.4M

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

$115 TZS 302.9K

$57.7 TZS 151.4K

100.00%

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

$3.86 TZS 10.1K

$9.09 TZS 23.9K

-57.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.07 TZS 92.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.4 TZS 211.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.99 TZS 21.0K

Cinema Ticket

$5.24 TZS 13.8K

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

$570 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K TZS 34.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.65 TZS 48.9K

$14.26 TZS 37.4K

30.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 TZS 68.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.46 TZS 116.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.4 TZS 174.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 TZS 537.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 TZS 3.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 TZS 491.7K

$431 TZS 1.1M

-56.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,515 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,050 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.8 TZS 251.5K

$275 TZS 722.4K

-65.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

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

Last update for Moshi: September 12, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 187% 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 192%, 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 $360 per month in Moshi and $1,050 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 $240 in Moshi and $700 in Dar es Salaam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 71% 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 $240, than in Dar es Salaam at $700. 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.