Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Tanzania

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.

United States
Tanzania
🇺🇸 United States
$2,734
/mo nomad
🇹🇿 Tanzania
$624
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

  • United States $2,734
  • Tanzania $624

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

  • United States $3,985
  • Tanzania $949

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

  • United States $5,235
  • Tanzania $1,274

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 the United States is about 338% higher than in Tanzania on average.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Tanzania
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$2.30 TZS 6,048
770.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0 $80.0
$18.58 TZS 48.9K
330.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.80 $11.80
$7.78 TZS 20.4K
51.67%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$1.98 TZS 5,195
180.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$0.39 TZS 1,017
582.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.23 TZS 604
843.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$0.98 TZS 2,581
524.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$1.85 TZS 4,861
329.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Tanzania
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.85 TZS 2,225
22.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$0.68 TZS 1,797
427.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$1.00 TZS 2,629
352.00%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$2.10 TZS 5,534
103.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 $13.22
$8.15 TZS 21.4K
62.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.60 $12.60
$4.29 TZS 11.3K
193.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.60 $17.60
$3.96 TZS 10.4K
344.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$2.23 TZS 5,862
137.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.04 TZS 2,729
62.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$0.95 TZS 2,490
367.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$0.90 TZS 2,359
430.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$0.93 TZS 2,454
219.35%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.10 TZS 2,895
186.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.66 TZS 1,741
233.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.41 TZS 1,072
473.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.98 $10.98
$1.91 TZS 5,011
474.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$5.54 TZS 14.6K
171.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.04 TZS 2,733
98.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 $3.79
$1.47 TZS 3,854
157.82%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Tanzania
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.27 TZS 712
618.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.4 $59.4
$14.69 TZS 38.6K
304.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 $3.58
$1.74 TZS 4,583
105.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.50 TZS 3,931
25.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.84 $29.84
$13.09 TZS 34.4K
127.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.30 TZS 3,424
-21.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K $28.8K
$16.4K TZS 43.2M
74.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.2K TZS 66.2M
4.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Tanzania
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$54.0 TZS 142.0K
303.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$9.89 TZS 26.0K
531.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5 $74.5
$38.30 TZS 100.7K
94.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Tanzania
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.86 $41.86
$63.9 TZS 167.9K
-34.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.81 $22.81
$7.47 TZS 19.6K
205.35%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70 $14.70
$5.53 TZS 14.5K
165.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Tanzania
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,489 $1,489
$541 TZS 1.4M
175.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.3K $25.3K
$10.7K TZS 28.2M
135.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Tanzania
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 $54.3
$13.96 TZS 36.7K
289.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71 $42.71
$21.41 TZS 56.3K
99.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 $94.1
$31.59 TZS 83.0K
197.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$41.64 TZS 109.5K
172.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Tanzania
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,659 $1,659
$420 TZS 1.1M
295.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 $1,348
$154 TZS 404.2K
776.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,682 $2,682
$719 TZS 1.9M
273.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,169 $2,169
$275 TZS 722.8K
688.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,283 $3,283
$1,575 TZS 4.1M
108.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,482 $2,482
$1,083 TZS 2.8M
129.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Tanzania
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,296 $4,296
$248 TZS 651.1K
1634.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
14.5
-54.83%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Tanzania: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K
Tanzania
$154 88.6% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
United States
$415
Tanzania
$143 65.6% $272
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355
Tanzania
$102 71.2% $253
Eating Out
United States
$328
Tanzania
$77 76.7% $251
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Tanzania
$49 64.4% $88
Getting Around
United States
$80
Tanzania
$25 68.8% $55
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$71
Tanzania
$75 5.1% $3.7

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $235 in Tanzania. 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
🇺🇸 United States
🇹🇿 Tanzania
🕒 Local time
05:38 5:38 AM
12:38 12:38 PM
7 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
57,310,019
Exchange rates and currency converter

TZS, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

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

Tanzanian Shilling exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 2,629 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.8 USD). 1 EUR = 2,926 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Tanzania 13,350 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United States
  • Tanzania

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
United States vs Tanzania: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Tanzania or the United States?
Tanzania is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 77% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Tanzania or in the United States?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $194 in Tanzania.
How do daily expenses compare in Tanzania vs the United States?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Tanzania, adding to the overall 338% price gap.
Which country is better for expats: Tanzania or the United States?
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.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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