Cost of living in Tanzania
Summary of cost of living in Tanzania
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 3,270,865 Shilling
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 1,605,859 Shilling WARNING! These estimates are based on data that may have some inconsistencies at the moment. They already provide a decent estimate but they are not currently bullet-proof.
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 15,501 Shilling | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 9,886 Shilling | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 6,318 Shilling | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 1,833 Shilling | ||
12 eggs, large | 5,547 Shilling | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 2,308 Shilling | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 3,956 Shilling | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 3,370 Shilling | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 1,153 Shilling | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 2,348 Shilling | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 13,449 Shilling | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | 2,017 Shilling | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 1,542 Shilling | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 1,201,780 Shilling | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 654,101 Shilling | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 144,906 Shilling | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 1,500,000 Shilling | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 500,000 Shilling | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 307,982 Shilling | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 69,990 Shilling | ||
40” flat screen tv | 794,737 Shilling | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 238,410 Shilling | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 5,049 Shilling | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 16,350 Shilling | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 26,327 Shilling | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 18,800 Shilling | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 46,367 Shilling | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 27,676 Shilling | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 4,000,000 Shilling | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 2,328 Shilling | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | 26,840 Shilling | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 10,000 Shilling | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 24,000 Shilling | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | - | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 14,325 Shilling | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 6,686 Shilling | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 5,252 Shilling | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | 3,036 Shilling | ||
Tube of toothpaste | 1,772 Shilling | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 13,930 Shilling | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 17,784 Shilling | ||
2 tickets to the movies | 14,943 Shilling | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | - | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 61,851 Shilling | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 11,703 Shilling | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 4,797 Shilling | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 2,898 Shilling | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 200,000 Shilling | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 120 Shilling | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | 61,101 Shilling | ||
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 4,921 Shilling |
Map of Cost of Living in Tanzania

This map shows only the top cities in Tanzania. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Arusha is 5% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Dar es Salaam is 40% cheaper than in Preston
- Cost of living in Dar es Salaam is 28% cheaper than in Vigo
- Cost of living in Dodoma is 30% cheaper than in Istanbul
- Cost of living in Dar es Salaam is 15% more expensive than in Cairo
- Cost of living in Dar es Salaam is 10% cheaper than in Nairobi
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 28% cheaper than in Zagreb
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 20% cheaper than in Johannesburg
- Cost of living in Mwanza is 55% cheaper than in Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota
- Cost of living in Dar es Salaam is 60% cheaper than in Copenhagen
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 45% cheaper than in Rome
- Cost of living in Dodoma is 22% cheaper than in Bangalore
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 22% cheaper than in Port Louis
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 62% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 38% cheaper than in Borås
- Cost of living in Arusha is 39% cheaper than in Omaha, Nebraska
- Cost of living in Arusha is 31% cheaper than in Lleida
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 7% cheaper than in Dar es Salaam
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 7% cheaper than in Mombasa
- Cost of living in Zanzibar is 8% more expensive than in Antalya
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 1 kg of tomatoes in Dar es Salaam costs 3,200 Shilling (3 days ago)
- 12 eggs, large in Dar es Salaam costs 12,650 Shilling (3 days ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Dar es Salaam costs 2,000 Shilling (3 days ago)
- 500 g of boneless chicken breast in Dar es Salaam costs 15,000 Shilling (3 days ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Dar es Salaam costs 23,000 Shilling (3 days ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Dar es Salaam costs 50,000 Shilling (3 days ago)