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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 TZS 7,271

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 TZS 50.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.7K

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,095

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

$0.39 TZS 1,012

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 572

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,802

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,080

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 TZS 2,813

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,126

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 TZS 2,936

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,155

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 TZS 24.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TZS 15.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 TZS 11.4K

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,821

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,746

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,752

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,724

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,462

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 4,002

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,369

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 TZS 1,147

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 TZS 5,333

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 TZS 16.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,523

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,240

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 679

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.10 TZS 44.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,884

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,930

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 TZS 35.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,271

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

$16.8K TZS 43.8M

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

$17.2K TZS 44.9M

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

$98.3 TZS 256.6K

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

$10.90 TZS 28.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 TZS 83.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 249.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 TZS 12.4K

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

$253 TZS 660.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 67.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 TZS 109.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 TZS 120.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 TZS 223.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 668.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 TZS 1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 TZS 687.7K

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 Songea: April 28, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: April 25, 2026

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

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

Families tend to lean toward Songea – 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 Songea. 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.