Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Dar es Salaam

For one person, living is cheaper in Mwanza: $188 a month against $701 in Dar es Salaam, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Dar es Salaam
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Dar es Salaam Living Index

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Mwanza

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$188

/mo nomad

Dar es Salaam

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$701

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mwanza and in Dar es Salaam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mwanza and in Dar es Salaam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $188 per month in Mwanza vs $701 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Mwanza $188
Dar es Salaam $701

A couple spends around $295 per month in Mwanza vs $1,114 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Mwanza $295
Dar es Salaam $1,114

A family of three spends $403 per month in Mwanza vs $1,527 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Mwanza $403
Dar es Salaam $1,527

Mwanza is about 73% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mwanza and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Mwanza 86% lower, Dar es Salaam 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.42 TZS 6,367

$1.85 TZS 4,854

30.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.31 TZS 40.3K

$18.91 TZS 49.7K

-19.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 TZS 12.2K

$7.54 TZS 19.8K

-38.73%

Cappuccino

$2.69 TZS 7,083

$1.93 TZS 5,069

39.38%

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

$0.37 TZS 981

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 TZS 763

$0.20 TZS 525

45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 TZS 2,402

$0.91 TZS 2,397

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 TZS 3,525

$1.88 TZS 4,938

-28.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 TZS 2,461

$0.84 TZS 2,219

11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 TZS 4,035

$0.61 TZS 1,601

150.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,613

$1.10 TZS 2,888

-10.00%

Eggs

$2.10 TZS 5,534

$1.94 TZS 5,105

8.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 TZS 24.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 TZS 12.9K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.96 TZS 10.4K

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 TZS 6,504

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,803

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,691

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,387

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,645

$0.95 TZS 2,510

6.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 TZS 3,534

$1.03 TZS 2,707

30.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 TZS 2,168

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 TZS 957

$0.39 TZS 1,013

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,322

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 TZS 18.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 TZS 2,289

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 TZS 4,209

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 628

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.01 TZS 39.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 TZS 4,462

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,084

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.48 TZS 35.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 TZS 3,803

$1.40 TZS 3,675

3.57%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.7M

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

$26.2K TZS 68.8M

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

$66.4 TZS 174.5K

$57.6 TZS 151.3K

15.29%

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

$8.92 TZS 23.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.59 TZS 90.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.5 TZS 219.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.19 TZS 26.8K

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 TZS 13.7K

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

$569 TZS 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K TZS 37.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.19 TZS 68.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.57 TZS 114.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.4 TZS 156.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$533 TZS 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 TZS 502.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,358 TZS 3.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 TZS 1.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,504 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,091 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$187 TZS 490.8K

$284 TZS 745.6K

-34.17%

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 Mwanza: November 3, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mwanza

–

Dar es Salaam

$191 27.3%

Groceries & Markets

Mwanza

–

Dar es Salaam

$153 21.8%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mwanza

–

Dar es Salaam

$101 14.4%

Sport & Entertainment

Mwanza

–

Dar es Salaam

$94 13.4%

Eating Out

Mwanza

–

Dar es Salaam

$71 10.2%

Clothing & Footwear

Mwanza

–

Dar es Salaam

$65 9.3%

Getting Around

Mwanza

–

Dar es Salaam

$25 3.6%

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 52% higher in Dar es Salaam, 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 $15 in Mwanza versus $19 in Dar es Salaam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $47 vs $153 – making Mwanza the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇿 Mwanza

🇹🇿 Dar es Salaam

🕒 Local time

11:15 11:15 AM

Same time as Mwanza

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,104,521

5,383,728

💱 Currency

Tanzanian Shilling TZS Sh

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.39 EUR

10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.39 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Mwanza Dar es Salaam 850 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Mwanza
Dar es Salaam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 274%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $281 per month in Mwanza and $1,051 in Dar es Salaam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 224% more in Dar es Salaam, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15 in Mwanza and $19 in Dar es Salaam. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $188 in Mwanza and $701 in Dar es Salaam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Dar es Salaam has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $188 in Mwanza to $701 in Dar es Salaam. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Mwanza. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dar es Salaam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.