Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tanzania and South Africa

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

For one person, living is cheaper in Tanzania: $624 a month against $1,203 in South Africa, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

30

Cost of Living Index in Tanzania
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Tanzania Living Index
58

Cost of Living Index in South Africa
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South Africa Living Index

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🇹🇿 Tanzania

$624

/mo nomad

🇿🇦 South Africa

$1,203

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tanzania and in South Africa

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

A single person spends $624 per month in Tanzania vs $1,203 in South Africa, rent included.

Tanzania $624
South Africa $1,203

A couple spends around $949 per month in Tanzania vs $1,893 in South Africa, rent included.

Tanzania $949
South Africa $1,893

A family of three spends $1,274 per month in Tanzania vs $2,583 in South Africa, rent included.

Tanzania $1,274
South Africa $2,583

The regional cost range is wider in South Africa ($618–$1,556) than in Tanzania ($39–$702), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Tanzania is roughly 48% lower than in South Africa on average.

Both Tanzania and South Africa are more affordable than the global median – Tanzania 54% lower, South Africa 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 TZS 6,036

$10.67 R 178

-78.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.58 TZS 48.8K

$41.66 R 694

-55.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 TZS 20.4K

$5.80 R 96.6

34.14%

Cappuccino

$1.98 TZS 5,185

$2.36 R 39.30

-16.10%

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

$0.39 TZS 1,015

$1.12 R 18.60

-65.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 TZS 603

$0.90 R 15.02

-74.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 TZS 2,576

$2.42 R 40.27

-59.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 TZS 4,852

$3.06 R 51.0

-39.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 TZS 2,221

$1.18 R 19.62

-27.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 TZS 1,794

$1.13 R 18.86

-39.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,624

$1.74 R 28.95

-42.53%

Eggs

$2.10 TZS 5,523

$2.57 R 42.88

-18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 TZS 21.4K

$8.43 R 140

-3.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 TZS 11.3K

$5.12 R 85.3

-16.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.96 TZS 10.4K

$7.59 R 127

-47.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 TZS 5,851

$1.77 R 29.57

25.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,724

$1.74 R 28.95

-40.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,486

$1.77 R 29.48

-46.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,355

$1.76 R 29.31

-48.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,449

$1.49 R 24.85

-37.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,890

$1.47 R 24.42

-25.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 TZS 1,738

$1.23 R 20.56

-46.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,070

$1.10 R 18.29

-62.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 TZS 5,001

$3.24 R 54.1

-41.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.54 TZS 14.5K

$5.00 R 83.3

10.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 TZS 2,727

$1.50 R 24.95

-30.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 TZS 3,846

$1.94 R 32.32

-24.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 TZS 711

$1.48 R 24.63

-81.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.69 TZS 38.6K

$59.3 R 988

-75.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 TZS 4,574

$1.09 R 18.25

59.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 TZS 3,923

$0.99 R 16.49

51.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.09 TZS 34.4K

$7.46 R 124

75.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 TZS 3,418

$1.43 R 23.80

-9.09%

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

$16.4K TZS 43.2M

$35.3K R 588.4K

-53.41%

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

$25.2K TZS 66.1M

$32.4K R 540.6K

-22.39%

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

$54.0 TZS 141.7K

$133 R 2,212

-59.33%

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

$9.89 TZS 26.0K

$34.83 R 581

-71.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.30 TZS 100.5K

$39.76 R 663

-3.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.9 TZS 167.6K

$33.09 R 552

93.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.47 TZS 19.6K

$11.65 R 194

-35.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.53 TZS 14.5K

$7.18 R 120

-22.98%

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

$541 TZS 1.4M

$224 R 3,735

141.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K TZS 28.2M

$5,462 R 91.0K

96.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.96 TZS 36.6K

$54.2 R 903

-74.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.41 TZS 56.2K

$34.13 R 569

-37.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.59 TZS 82.9K

$102 R 1,702

-69.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.64 TZS 109.3K

$88.5 R 1,475

-52.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 TZS 1.1M

$492 R 8,204

-14.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 TZS 403.4K

$398 R 6,629

-61.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$719 TZS 1.9M

$946 R 15.8K

-24.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 TZS 721.5K

$827 R 13.8K

-66.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,575 TZS 4.1M

$1,099 R 18.3K

43.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,083 TZS 2.8M

$769 R 12.8K

40.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 TZS 649.9K

$1,502 R 25.0K

-83.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.5

11.23

29.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tanzania: October 24, 2026

Last update for South Africa: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Tanzania

$154 24.6%

South Africa

$398 33.1% 159% $244

Groceries & Markets

Tanzania

$143 22.9%

South Africa

$196 16.3% 37.1% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Tanzania

$102 16.4%

South Africa

$207 17.2% 103% $105

Eating Out

Tanzania

$77 12.3%

South Africa

$157 13.1% 106% $81

Sport & Entertainment

Tanzania

$75 12%

South Africa

$47 4% 36.7% $28

Clothing & Footwear

Tanzania

$49 7.8%

South Africa

$126 10.4% 157% $77

Getting Around

Tanzania

$25 4%

South Africa

$71 5.9% 185% $46

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $235 in Tanzania vs $1,488 in South Africa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 118% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 105% more in South Africa.

Public transport is 336% more expensive in South Africa.

Salaries are about 6.3 times higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.

Good to know

🇹🇿 Tanzania

🇿🇦 South Africa

🕒 Local time

11:49 11:49 AM

10:49 10:49 AM

1 h behind Tanzania

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

57,310,019

62,027,503

💱 Currency

Tanzanian Shilling TZS Sh

South African Rand ZAR R

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 TZS = 3.81 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.42 EUR

100 ZAR = 6 USD

100 ZAR = 5.39 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to TZS – Tanzanian Shilling Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇿 Tanzanian Shilling (Sh)

Tanzanian Shilling exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 2,624 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.81 USD). 1 EUR = 2,920 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.42 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 16.67 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6 USD). 1 EUR = 18.55 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.39 EUR).

USD to TZS in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Tanzania South Africa 2,740 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Tanzania
South Africa

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

Tanzania vs South Africa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tanzania is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 48% lower on average.

Housing costs more in South Africa: a central one-bedroom averages $422 versus $194 in Tanzania.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Tanzania, adding to the overall 93% price gap.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Tanzania, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Tanzania is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.