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 $877 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $429 per month in Moshi vs $1,409 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $609 per month in Moshi vs $1,941 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

$3.05 TZS 7,948

$2.85 TZS 7,431

7.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.20 TZS 50.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 TZS 20.0K

Cappuccino

$2.02 TZS 5,274

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

$0.35 TZS 922

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 628

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 TZS 2,839

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 TZS 5,005

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,454

$1.02 TZS 2,672

-45.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,962

$0.79 TZS 2,051

-5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 TZS 3,436

$1.08 TZS 2,826

22.22%

Eggs

$2.08 TZS 5,438

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.72 TZS 22.7K

$9.33 TZS 24.3K

-6.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,943

$5.69 TZS 14.8K

-33.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.07 TZS 8,002

$4.28 TZS 11.2K

-28.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 TZS 6,720

Banana (1kg)

$0.40 TZS 1,055

$1.05 TZS 2,749

-61.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,133

$1.02 TZS 2,663

54.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$1.03 TZS 2,699

-27.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,042

$0.96 TZS 2,506

-18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,926

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 TZS 2,339

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

$0.40 TZS 1,053

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 TZS 5,345

Wine (Bottle)

$6.91 TZS 18.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 TZS 2,342

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 TZS 4,309

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,056

$0.24 TZS 622

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.36 TZS 45.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,843

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 TZS 3,908

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.64 TZS 35.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,268

$1.21 TZS 3,154

3.31%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.4M

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

$17.5K TZS 45.5M

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

$118 TZS 307.8K

$98.3 TZS 256.4K

20.06%

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

$3.92 TZS 10.2K

$10.67 TZS 27.8K

-63.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.44 TZS 84.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.6 TZS 249.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.90 TZS 12.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 TZS 12.9K

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

$255 TZS 664.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K TZS 49.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.35 TZS 50.5K

$26.15 TZS 68.2K

-26.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.61 TZS 111.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.76 TZS 122.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 TZS 216.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 TZS 669.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,291 TZS 3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 TZS 511.7K

$654 TZS 1.7M

-70.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,521 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.5 TZS 249.2K

$282 TZS 736.2K

-66.16%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 195% 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 253%, 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 $372 per month in Moshi and $1,315 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 $877 in Dar es Salaam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 78% 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 $877. 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.