Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tanzania and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in Tanzania: $624 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $25,300 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
131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

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🇹🇿 Tanzania

$624

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tanzania and in the United States

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 the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $624 per month in Tanzania vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.

Tanzania $624
United States $2,734

A couple spends around $949 per month in Tanzania vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.

Tanzania $949
United States $3,985

A family of three spends $1,274 per month in Tanzania vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.

Tanzania $1,274
United States $5,235

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Tanzania ($39–$702), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Tanzania is roughly 77% lower than in the United States on average.

Tanzania sits 54% below the global median, while the United States is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 TZS 6,036

$20.03 $20.03

-88.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.58 TZS 48.8K

$80.0 $80.0

-76.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 TZS 20.4K

$11.80 $11.80

-34.07%

Cappuccino

$1.98 TZS 5,185

$5.55 $5.55

-64.32%

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

$0.39 TZS 1,015

$2.66 $2.66

-85.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 TZS 603

$2.17 $2.17

-89.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 TZS 2,576

$6.12 $6.12

-83.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 TZS 4,852

$7.94 $7.94

-76.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 TZS 2,221

$1.04 $1.04

-18.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 TZS 1,794

$3.59 $3.59

-81.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,624

$4.52 $4.52

-77.88%

Eggs

$2.10 TZS 5,523

$4.28 $4.28

-50.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 TZS 21.4K

$13.22 $13.22

-38.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 TZS 11.3K

$12.60 $12.60

-65.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.96 TZS 10.4K

$17.60 $17.60

-77.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 TZS 5,851

$5.30 $5.30

-57.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,724

$1.69 $1.69

-38.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,486

$4.44 $4.44

-78.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,355

$4.77 $4.77

-81.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,449

$2.97 $2.97

-68.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,890

$3.15 $3.15

-65.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 TZS 1,738

$2.20 $2.20

-70.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,070

$2.35 $2.35

-82.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 TZS 5,001

$10.98 $10.98

-82.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.54 TZS 14.5K

$15.05 $15.05

-63.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 TZS 2,727

$2.06 $2.06

-49.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 TZS 3,846

$3.79 $3.79

-61.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 TZS 711

$1.94 $1.94

-86.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.69 TZS 38.6K

$59.4 $59.4

-75.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 TZS 4,574

$3.58 $3.58

-51.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 TZS 3,923

$1.88 $1.88

-20.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.09 TZS 34.4K

$29.84 $29.84

-56.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 TZS 3,418

$1.02 $1.02

27.45%

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

$16.4K TZS 43.2M

$28.8K $28.8K

-42.81%

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

$25.2K TZS 66.1M

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.95%

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

$54.0 TZS 141.7K

$218 $218

-75.23%

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

$9.89 TZS 26.0K

$62.5 $62.5

-84.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.30 TZS 100.5K

$74.5 $74.5

-48.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.9 TZS 167.6K

$41.86 $41.86

52.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.47 TZS 19.6K

$22.81 $22.81

-67.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.53 TZS 14.5K

$14.70 $14.70

-62.38%

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

$541 TZS 1.4M

$1,489 $1,489

-63.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K TZS 28.2M

$25.3K $25.3K

-57.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.96 TZS 36.6K

$54.3 $54.3

-74.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.41 TZS 56.2K

$42.71 $42.71

-49.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.59 TZS 82.9K

$94.1 $94.1

-66.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.64 TZS 109.3K

$114 $114

-63.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 TZS 1.1M

$1,659 $1,659

-74.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 TZS 403.4K

$1,348 $1,348

-88.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$719 TZS 1.9M

$2,682 $2,682

-73.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 TZS 721.5K

$2,169 $2,169

-87.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,575 TZS 4.1M

$3,283 $3,283

-52.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,083 TZS 2.8M

$2,482 $2,482

-56.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 TZS 649.9K

$4,296 $4,296

-94.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.5

6.55

121.37%

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

Last update for Tanzania: October 24, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Tanzania

$154 24.6%

United States

$1.3K 49.3% 777% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

Tanzania

$143 22.9%

United States

$415 15.2% 191% $272

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Tanzania

$102 16.4%

United States

$355 13% 247% $253

Eating Out

Tanzania

$77 12.3%

United States

$328 12% 329% $251

Sport & Entertainment

Tanzania

$75 12%

United States

$71 2.6% 4.9% $3.7

Clothing & Footwear

Tanzania

$49 7.8%

United States

$137 5% 181% $88

Getting Around

Tanzania

$25 4%

United States

$80 2.9% 221% $55

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $235 in Tanzania vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 735% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 295% more in the United States.

Public transport is 350% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 19 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇹🇿 Tanzania

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

11:48 11:48 AM

04:48 4:48 AM

7 h behind Tanzania

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

57,310,019

340,110,988

💱 Currency

Tanzanian Shilling TZS Sh

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 TZS = 3.81 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.42 EUR

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

USD to TZS in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Tanzania United States 13,350 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Tanzania
United States

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tanzania is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 77% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $194 in Tanzania.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Tanzania, adding to the overall 338% price gap.

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.