Cost of Living in Dar es Salaam (2026) — Monthly Budget

Wondering how far your salary goes in Dar es Salaam? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, Masaki or Oyster BayTZS 1,800,000–4,000,000 / month

One-bed apartment, Mikocheni or UpangaTZS 900,000–1,800,000 / month

Bajaji across townTZS 3,000–10,000

Local restaurant mealTZS 8,000–25,000

Groceries, one personTZS 600,000–1,200,000 / month

Good to know

Population

≈5.5 million (Dar es Salaam region) — among the fastest-growing cities in the world

Capital

Dodoma is the political capital; Dar es Salaam is the commercial one

Languages

Swahili is the national language and genuinely dominant; English is used in business

Currency

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Time zone

EAT (GMT+3); no daylight saving

Power plug

Types D and G, 230 V / 50 Hz

Driving side

Left

Climate

Hot and humid at sea level year-round; long rains roughly March to May

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Dar es Salaam checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.