Cost of Living in Dar es Salaam - Updated Prices & Insights

33.46

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $514 (excluding rent), and $851 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,169 (excluding rent), and $1,906 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.77 TZS 7,092

$0.96 TZS 2,457

$5.74 TZS 14.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.95 TZS 48.5K

$15.16 TZS 38.8K

$56.9 TZS 145.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.3K

$6.35 TZS 16.3K

$11.5 TZS 29.4K

Cappuccino

$1.96 TZS 5,016

$0.76 TZS 1,951

$4.98 TZS 12.7K

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

$0.39 TZS 990

$0.28 TZS 722

$0.41 TZS 1,043

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 560

$0.18 TZS 463

$0.37 TZS 950

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 TZS 2,775

$0.79 TZS 2,016

$1.97 TZS 5,052

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 TZS 5,080

$1.39 TZS 3,553

$1.99 TZS 5,080

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 TZS 2,631

$0.65 TZS 1,654

$1.52 TZS 3,884

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,012

$0.38 TZS 981

$2.66 TZS 6,815

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 TZS 2,769

$0.95 TZS 2,420

$1.51 TZS 3,867

Eggs

$2.06 TZS 5,265

$1.41 TZS 3,605

$2.82 TZS 7,210

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 TZS 23.7K

$7.61 TZS 19.5K

$11.42 TZS 29.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 TZS 14.6K

$2.29 TZS 5,849

$6.86 TZS 17.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.12 TZS 10.6K

$3.38 TZS 8,640

$4.5 TZS 11.5K

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,686

$1.56 TZS 3,986

$3.89 TZS 9,952

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,603

$0.57 TZS 1,452

$2.65 TZS 6,783

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,693

$0.39 TZS 1,010

$2.74 TZS 7,017

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,674

$0.76 TZS 1,942

$1.9 TZS 4,869

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,450

$0.48 TZS 1,225

$1.21 TZS 3,089

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 TZS 3,934

$0.76 TZS 1,954

$2.3 TZS 5,889

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 TZS 2,199

$0.19 TZS 480

$1.15 TZS 2,932

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 TZS 1,105

$0.28 TZS 710

$0.6 TZS 1,526

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 TZS 5,347

$1.19 TZS 3,056

$3.98 TZS 10.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$5.69 TZS 14.6K

$7.59 TZS 19.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.9 TZS 2,303

$0.75 TZS 1,907

$1.12 TZS 2,873

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 TZS 4,300

$0.99 TZS 2,543

$1.98 TZS 5,060

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 667

$0.24 TZS 614

$0.41 TZS 1,041

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.49 TZS 44.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,820

$1.99 TZS 5,085

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,867

$1.14 TZS 2,907

$1.51 TZS 3,867

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.35 TZS 34.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 TZS 3,114

$1.11 TZS 2,835

$1.34 TZS 3,418

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

$17.2K TZS 44.1M

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

$16.9K TZS 43.4M

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

$98.1 TZS 251K

$58.9 TZS 150.6K

$157 TZS 401.7K

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

$10.88 TZS 27.8K

$7.81 TZS 20K

$11.71 TZS 30K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.52 TZS 80.7K

$19.04 TZS 48.7K

$57.1 TZS 146.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.9 TZS 240.3K

$58 TZS 148.3K

$125 TZS 318.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.77 TZS 12.2K

$3.82 TZS 9,774

$5.72 TZS 14.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 TZS 12.6K

$3.95 TZS 10.1K

$5.92 TZS 15.2K

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

$257 TZS 658.4K

$117 TZS 300K

$508 TZS 1.3M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19K TZS 48.7M

$10.8K TZS 27.5M

$34.7K TZS 88.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.27 TZS 67.2K

$21.4 TZS 54.8K

$31.13 TZS 79.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.22 TZS 108K

$38.38 TZS 98.2K

$46.05 TZS 117.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.24 TZS 118.3K

$34.67 TZS 88.7K

$77.1 TZS 197.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.2 TZS 215.4K

$46.43 TZS 118.8K

$116 TZS 297.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 TZS 1.5M

$230 TZS 589.6K

$990 TZS 2.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 654.9K

$153 TZS 391.7K

$383 TZS 979.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 TZS 3.4M

$779 TZS 2M

$1,809 TZS 4.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 TZS 1.7M

$392 TZS 1M

$1,012 TZS 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,219 TZS 8.2M

$983 TZS 2.5M

$5,456 TZS 14M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,312 TZS 13.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$417 TZS 1.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

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

City tags:

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Cost of Living in Dar es Salaam - Frequently Asked Questions

Dar es Salaam offers a mixed affordability picture for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. Local food is affordable if you eat where residents do, while dining out at tourist spots can raise the daily cost. Shopping at markets and cooking at home keeps things predictable, but imported goods and premium amenities push prices up in pricey districts. Overall, you’ll find good value when you choose your neighborhood and pace to match your lifestyle. Cost of Living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania helps frame what mid-range options feel like in practice, rather than dictating a fixed budget. Tip: Start with a longer stay to test areas before committing.

As you settle in, target neighborhoods with easy transit and local amenities. Housing ranges from modern apartments to shared homes, often with flexible leases. Food options span bustling markets, affordable street fare, and a growing cafe scene for remote work. Transport mixes buses, dala-dalas, ferries, and ride-hailing, so expect variability in travel times and routes. For errands, centers cluster around main arteries, with banks, pharmacies, and supermarkets convenient in urban cores. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania living cost varies by district, so let daily routines guide where you look first. Tip: Build a short-term plan to test areas before committing long-term.

A practical budgeting approach is to fix essential costs first – housing, utilities, and transport – then treat everything else as flexible. Use a simple monthly framework: separate needs from wants, track minimal recurring fees, and set a buffer for unexpected expenses. Seasonality matters: humid wet seasons can affect outdoor activities and travel plans, while busy periods shift crowds and prices in popular spots. To find a good neighborhood, weigh walkability, access to markets, safety, and the vibe that suits you – coastal zones, central districts, and quieter inland pockets each offer a different pace. Tip: Test a couple of areas with short stays before signing a longer lease.