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 $248 per month in Moshi vs $858 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $427 per month in Moshi vs $1,399 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $606 per month in Moshi vs $1,940 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Moshi is about 71% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Moshi and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Moshi 81% lower, Dar es Salaam 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 TZS 7,868

$2.75 TZS 7,158

10.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.48 TZS 50.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 TZS 19.7K

Cappuccino

$2.01 TZS 5,234

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

$0.36 TZS 927

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 624

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,791

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,056

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 TZS 1,538

$1.06 TZS 2,759

-44.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,940

$0.79 TZS 2,046

-5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 TZS 3,569

$1.09 TZS 2,844

25.69%

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,145

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.37 TZS 21.8K

$9.35 TZS 24.3K

-10.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,825

$5.93 TZS 15.4K

-36.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.15 TZS 8,196

$4.27 TZS 11.1K

-26.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 TZS 6,719

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 TZS 1,043

$1.01 TZS 2,637

-60.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 TZS 4,060

$1.02 TZS 2,663

52.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,057

$1.05 TZS 2,720

-24.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,040

$0.96 TZS 2,499

-18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,109

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 TZS 2,158

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,061

$0.40 TZS 1,050

2.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,226

Wine (Bottle)

$6.81 TZS 17.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 TZS 2,500

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,203

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 TZS 966

$0.24 TZS 622

54.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.21 TZS 44.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 TZS 3,736

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,029

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.31 TZS 34.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,185

$1.24 TZS 3,233

-0.81%

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

$16.8K TZS 43.7M

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

$17.2K TZS 44.7M

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

$117 TZS 303.3K

$96.3 TZS 250.4K

21.15%

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

$3.96 TZS 10.3K

$10.72 TZS 27.9K

-63.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.60 TZS 84.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 248.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

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

$256 TZS 664.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.70 TZS 51.2K

$25.75 TZS 66.9K

-23.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 TZS 112.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.89 TZS 119.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 TZS 219.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 TZS 671.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 TZS 499.4K

$661 TZS 1.7M

-70.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,514 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,096 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.3 TZS 247.6K

$278 TZS 722.6K

-65.73%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 192% 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 245%, 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 $373 per month in Moshi and $1,287 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 $248 in Moshi and $858 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 $248, than in Dar es Salaam at $858. 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.