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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $146 per month in Mwanza vs $877 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $220 per month in Mwanza vs $1,409 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $293 per month in Mwanza vs $1,941 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Mwanza is about 83% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mwanza and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Mwanza 89% lower, Dar es Salaam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.45 TZS 6,398

$2.85 TZS 7,431

-14.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.26 TZS 39.8K

$19.20 TZS 50.1K

-20.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 TZS 11.8K

$7.65 TZS 20.0K

-41.05%

Cappuccino

$2.67 TZS 6,957

$2.02 TZS 5,274

32.18%

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

$0.30 TZS 788

$0.35 TZS 922

-14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 TZS 719

$0.24 TZS 628

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 TZS 2,572

$1.09 TZS 2,839

-9.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 TZS 3,562

$1.92 TZS 5,005

-28.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 TZS 2,672

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,051

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 TZS 2,826

Eggs

$2.08 TZS 5,438

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 TZS 24.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 TZS 14.8K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.28 TZS 11.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 TZS 6,720

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,749

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,663

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,699

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,506

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,926

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 TZS 2,339

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$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)

$0.24 TZS 622

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)

$1.21 TZS 3,154

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)

$68.2 TZS 177.8K

$98.3 TZS 256.4K

-30.63%

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

$10.67 TZS 27.8K

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)

$26.15 TZS 68.2K

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)

$654 TZS 1.7M

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)

$189 TZS 492.2K

$282 TZS 736.2K

-33.15%

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 Mwanza: June 7, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 50% 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 $15.00 in Mwanza versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 500%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $219 per month in Mwanza 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 $146 in Mwanza and $877 in Dar es Salaam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Mwanza and $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mwanza, where all-in costs run around $146, than in Dar es Salaam at $877. In Mwanza it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mwanza – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mwanza. 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.