Cost of Living

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Live cost-of-living data for Dar es Salaam — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
16/ 10084% cheaper than New York
$515/mo
Median Income
45/100
Safety
18%
Income Tax
tropical wet and dry
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$400/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$175/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,200/month
Food & Groceries
20/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$0.8/kg
Transportation
15/100
Monthly Transit Pass$20/month
One-Way Ticket$0.3/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.1/km
Utilities
30/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$75/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$30/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
35/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$30/visit
Dentist Visit$40/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
30/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$200/month
International Primary School (yearly)$5,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$250/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$4/ticket
Theater Ticket$12/ticket
Museum Entry$5/ticket
Clothing
35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$35/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$20/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$60/pair
Personal Care
25/100
Haircut (Men)$5/cut
Haircut (Women)$15/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2.5/bottle
Dining Out
20/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$3/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$20/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6/meal
Childcare
25/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$300/month
Babysitter (per hour)$3/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$8/pack
Fitness & Sports
20/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$35/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$10/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$3/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

28 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
fair
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
small
Nomad Community
55/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Upanga, Oyster Bay, Masaki

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dar es Salaam cheap to live in?

Dar es Salaam has a cost of living index of 16/100, where New York = 100. It is 84% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $560–$784 per month.

How much does rent cost in Dar es Salaam?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Dar es Salaam costs approximately $400/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $175/month.

Is Dar es Salaam good for digital nomads?

Dar es Salaam has a small digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 28 Mbps, café wifi reliability is fair, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Dar es Salaam?

The median net monthly salary in Dar es Salaam is approximately $515 USD. The income tax rate is around 18%.

How does Dar es Salaam compare to New York for cost of living?

Dar es Salaam (cost index 16) is 84% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,100/month by moving from New York to Dar es Salaam.

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