Cost of Living in Tanzania - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $432 (excluding rent), and $672 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $979 (excluding rent), and $1,435 including rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 TZS 6,943
$1.17 TZS 2,972
$5.86 TZS 14.9K
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.26 TZS 48.8K
$11.56 TZS 29.3K
$46.22 TZS 117.2K
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.64 TZS 19.4K
$5.73 TZS 14.5K
$9.55 TZS 24.2K
Cappuccino
$1.89 TZS 4,783
$0.76 TZS 1,918
$2.85 TZS 7,224
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 TZS 939
$0.28 TZS 704
$0.60 TZS 1,513
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 TZS 581
$0.18 TZS 460
$0.37 TZS 944
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 TZS 2,991
$0.79 TZS 2,003
$1.98 TZS 5,020
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 TZS 4,985
$1.37 TZS 3,487
$3.51 TZS 8,912
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 TZS 2,491
$0.61 TZS 1,537
$1.62 TZS 4,108
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 TZS 2,011
$0.40 TZS 1,005
$1.37 TZS 3,480
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 TZS 2,597
$0.76 TZS 1,923
$1.33 TZS 3,371
Eggs
$2.07 TZS 5,251
$1.40 TZS 3,543
$3.27 TZS 8,284
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.86 TZS 22.5K
$5.67 TZS 14.4K
$11.34 TZS 28.8K
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.23 TZS 13.3K
$2.34 TZS 5,936
$7.02 TZS 17.8K
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.99 TZS 10.1K
$3.23 TZS 8,193
$4.56 TZS 11.6K
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 TZS 6,177
$1.19 TZS 3,011
$3.96 TZS 10.0K
Banana (1kg)
$0.95 TZS 2,399
$0.59 TZS 1,496
$1.96 TZS 4,980
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 TZS 2,708
$0.40 TZS 1,015
$2.78 TZS 7,056
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 TZS 2,560
$0.60 TZS 1,515
$1.99 TZS 5,041
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 TZS 2,334
$0.40 TZS 1,023
$1.40 TZS 3,540
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 TZS 3,625
$0.59 TZS 1,491
$2.35 TZS 5,965
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 TZS 1,663
$0.38 TZS 954
$1.12 TZS 2,836
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 TZS 1,070
$0.26 TZS 657
$0.56 TZS 1,410
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 TZS 4,860
$1.37 TZS 3,475
$3.07 TZS 7,781
Wine (Bottle)
$5.95 TZS 15.1K
$2.77 TZS 7,026
$9.91 TZS 25.1K
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 TZS 2,469
$0.76 TZS 1,921
$1.52 TZS 3,866
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 TZS 3,900
$0.96 TZS 2,441
$1.91 TZS 4,856
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 TZS 741
$0.24 TZS 609
$0.80 TZS 2,039
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.49 TZS 44.4K
$8.44 TZS 21.4K
$20.20 TZS 51.2K
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 TZS 3,631
$1.43 TZS 3,631
$1.91 TZS 4,833
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 TZS 3,952
$1.17 TZS 2,970
$1.95 TZS 4,933
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.31 TZS 33.7K
$5.70 TZS 14.5K
$13.31 TZS 33.7K
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 TZS 2,959
$1.09 TZS 2,762
$1.24 TZS 3,156
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2K TZS 43.7M
$17.2K TZS 43.7M
$18.7K TZS 47.3M
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.0K TZS 40.5M
$16.0K TZS 40.5M
$17.1K TZS 43.3M
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 TZS 164.5K
$24.59 TZS 62.4K
$116 TZS 293.5K
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.78 TZS 27.3K
$3.86 TZS 9,797
$19.29 TZS 48.9K
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.70 TZS 98.2K
$23.65 TZS 60.0K
$59.1 TZS 149.9K
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 TZS 153.9K
$21.04 TZS 53.4K
$95.6 TZS 242.6K
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.24 TZS 15.8K
$3.85 TZS 9,757
$7.68 TZS 19.5K
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 TZS 11.5K
$3.78 TZS 9,597
$9.44 TZS 24.0K
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$296 TZS 750.5K
$147 TZS 372.2K
$509 TZS 1.3M
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,046 TZS 22.9M
$3,809 TZS 9.7M
$13.3K TZS 33.8M
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.50 TZS 41.8K
$7.76 TZS 19.7K
$23.30 TZS 59.1K
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.71 TZS 60.1K
$9.67 TZS 24.5K
$46.44 TZS 117.8K
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$30.13 TZS 76.4K
$17.50 TZS 44.4K
$38.89 TZS 98.6K
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.6 TZS 133.3K
$15.57 TZS 39.5K
$85.6 TZS 217.2K
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$397 TZS 1.0M
$115 TZS 292.8K
$992 TZS 2.5M
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 TZS 441.1K
$97.3 TZS 246.8K
$389 TZS 987.4K
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$755 TZS 1.9M
$199 TZS 505.5K
$1,794 TZS 4.5M
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 TZS 891.9K
$114 TZS 288.8K
$979 TZS 2.5M
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,566 TZS 4.0M
$1,421 TZS 3.6M
$5,463 TZS 13.9M
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,119 TZS 2.8M
$1,019 TZS 2.6M
$5,375 TZS 13.6M
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$254 TZS 643.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.6
10
25

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

Last update: February 28, 2026

By City in Tanzania
Lowest
Highest
Rank
City
Population
Living Index
Solo costs (no rent) / month
Solo costs (with rent) / month
Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month
Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month
Mobile download speed (Mbps)
Internet download speed (Mbps)
1
617631
10 $184 $202 $439 $511
162.94
19.31
2
55000
22 $357 $440 $706 $972
64.52
19.12
3
182970
22.14
12.55
4
-
188.36
45.64
5
5383728
43 $519 $882 $1,141 $1,936
75.22
21.23
6
765179
$317 $443 $896 $831
116.84
12.95
7
202490
22.07
17.79
8
541603
22 $317 $431 $743 $896
172.04
14.34
9
471409
22 $328 $439 $700 $994
48.05
19.02
10
221733
$147 $243 $341 $619
161.93
13.24
11
140793
93.34
16.15
12
1104521
$75.8 $144 $237 $290
55.94
16.13
13
92537
$295 $341 $634 $700
162.63
16.69
14
286285
248.42
17.95
15
221466
75.7
18.8
16
393429
$40.27 $39.73 $85.2 $75.8
125.21
19.3
17
709809
22 $294 $450 $901 $974
14.62
16.67
Tanzania Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cost of Living in Tanzania - Frequently Asked Questions
How affordable is Tanzania for travelers and expats, and who tends to find value?
A quick pulse check: Tanzania tends to offer good value for travelers and long stays, especially if you focus on local options. You’ll find affordable street food, flexible short-term rentals in many towns, and reasonably priced local transport. Imported goods and tourist-oriented areas can push costs higher, so choose lodging outside tourist hubs when possible. Overall, Cost of Living in Tanzania is favorable for those who blend in with local markets and avoid premium amenities. Housing in major cities varies by neighborhood, and rural areas can be even kinder on a budget. Tip: Compare weekly groceries, street meals, and monthly apartment rates to plan ahead.
What does daily life look like in Tanzania in terms of housing, food options, transport, and coworking?
Daily life shifts by city and rhythm. In Dar es Salaam or Mtwara you’ll find a range of housing from modest flats to larger rentals, with cheaper options often a short bus ride from the coast. Local markets and street stalls offer inexpensive staples and seasonal produce; supermarkets stock imported items at a premium. For transport, you’ll use dala-dalas, taxis, or ride-hailing apps in urban centers. Co-working spaces are growing in major towns, helpful for digital nomads. When errands stack up, plan around market days to maximize selection. Tanzania living cost varies by neighborhood, so scout several areas before committing. Tip: start with a one- or two-week trial in each area.
How can you plan for quality of life, budgeting, seasonality, and neighborhood fit when staying in Tanzania?
Quality of life rises when you tailor a simple budgeting framework: anchor major expenses to a monthly plan, then pencil in groceries, transport, and utilities with room for occasional experiences. In Tanzania, you’ll notice a wide gap between city centers and outlying areas, so pick a neighborhood that keeps you close to essentials like markets, schools, or coworking spaces if relevant. Embrace seasonality by planning outdoor activities around dry spells, and prepare for rain by packing practical gear. For longer stays, build a routine that rotates between urban conveniences and quieter towns to balance pace and costs. Tip: regularly review your subscriptions and transportation habits to trim recurring costs.

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