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

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $505 (excluding rent), and $880 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,160 (excluding rent), and $1,925 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 TZS 6,960

$0.98 TZS 2,411

$5.83 TZS 14.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.57 TZS 48.4K

$15.65 TZS 38.7K

$58.7 TZS 145.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 TZS 19.6K

$6.34 TZS 15.7K

$11.49 TZS 28.4K

Cappuccino

$2.03 TZS 5,007

$0.79 TZS 1,947

$5.14 TZS 12.7K

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

$0.36 TZS 884

$0.26 TZS 645

$0.38 TZS 931

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 540

$0.18 TZS 446

$0.37 TZS 916

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,563

$0.75 TZS 1,862

$1.89 TZS 4,666

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 TZS 4,861

$1.38 TZS 3,400

$1.97 TZS 4,861

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 TZS 2,659

$0.68 TZS 1,672

$1.59 TZS 3,926

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,044

$0.40 TZS 997

$2.80 TZS 6,925

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 TZS 2,809

$0.99 TZS 2,455

$1.59 TZS 3,923

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 4,881

$1.35 TZS 3,342

$2.70 TZS 6,684

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 TZS 24.0K

$7.96 TZS 19.7K

$11.94 TZS 29.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TZS 14.4K

$2.33 TZS 5,765

$7.00 TZS 17.3K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.29 TZS 10.6K

$3.51 TZS 8,678

$4.68 TZS 11.6K

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 TZS 6,236

$1.50 TZS 3,717

$3.75 TZS 9,282

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,620

$0.59 TZS 1,461

$2.76 TZS 6,827

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,615

$0.40 TZS 981

$2.76 TZS 6,815

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,551

$0.75 TZS 1,853

$1.88 TZS 4,645

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,320

$0.47 TZS 1,160

$1.18 TZS 2,925

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 3,791

$0.76 TZS 1,883

$2.30 TZS 5,675

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 TZS 2,184

$0.19 TZS 477

$1.18 TZS 2,912

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 999

$0.26 TZS 642

$0.56 TZS 1,380

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 TZS 5,095

$1.18 TZS 2,912

$3.93 TZS 9,714

Wine (Bottle)

$7.40 TZS 18.3K

$6.16 TZS 15.2K

$9.04 TZS 22.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 TZS 2,331

$0.78 TZS 1,930

$1.18 TZS 2,908

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 TZS 3,968

$0.95 TZS 2,347

$1.89 TZS 4,670

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 589

$0.22 TZS 542

$0.37 TZS 919

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.35 TZS 42.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 TZS 3,480

$1.87 TZS 4,632

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,723

$1.13 TZS 2,798

$1.51 TZS 3,723

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.59 TZS 33.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,093

$1.14 TZS 2,816

$1.37 TZS 3,395

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

$16.9K TZS 41.8M

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

$17.1K TZS 42.3M

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

$96.2 TZS 237.8K

$57.7 TZS 142.7K

$154 TZS 380.5K

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

$10.75 TZS 26.6K

$7.72 TZS 19.1K

$11.58 TZS 28.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.38 TZS 80.1K

$19.55 TZS 48.3K

$58.7 TZS 145.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.1 TZS 235.1K

$58.7 TZS 145.1K

$126 TZS 311.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.72 TZS 11.7K

$3.78 TZS 9,355

$5.67 TZS 14.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 TZS 11.8K

$3.83 TZS 9,470

$5.74 TZS 14.2K

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

$255 TZS 629.8K

$116 TZS 287.0K

$503 TZS 1.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K TZS 47.0M

$10.7K TZS 26.6M

$34.6K TZS 85.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.53 TZS 65.6K

$21.61 TZS 53.4K

$31.44 TZS 77.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.34 TZS 104.7K

$38.48 TZS 95.2K

$46.18 TZS 114.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.73 TZS 113.1K

$34.30 TZS 84.8K

$76.2 TZS 188.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 TZS 207.0K

$46.19 TZS 114.2K

$115 TZS 285.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 TZS 1.5M

$233 TZS 575.5K

$1,000 TZS 2.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 TZS 638.0K

$154 TZS 381.6K

$386 TZS 954.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,300 TZS 3.2M

$765 TZS 1.9M

$1,776 TZS 4.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 TZS 1.6M

$393 TZS 971.2K

$1,013 TZS 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,552 TZS 3.8M

$1,418 TZS 3.5M

$1,686 TZS 4.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,106 TZS 2.7M

$902 TZS 2.2M

$1,224 TZS 3.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$279 TZS 690.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

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

Last update: January 13, 2026

Dar es Salaam Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌍 Africa

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.