Tanzania (TZ)
East African expat base with Swahili-English daily life, Indian Ocean access, major safari and NGO sectors, growing mining and energy work, and relatively low local costs offset by permit, insurance, school, and hard-currency housing expenses.
Capital: Dodoma
Region: Africa
Language: Swahili
Currency: TZS (TSh)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 27)
Emergency: 112
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Tanzania — 2026 data in TZS.
27
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Food & Groceries
Ugali (maize meal, 2kg, staple) TSh 3,000–6,000
Rice (1kg) TSh 2,000–4,000
Eggs (12) TSh 4,000–7,000
Chicken (1kg) TSh 10,000–18,000
Fresh vegetables (weekly market basket) TSh 10,000–25,000
Beer (0.5L, Safari / Serengeti, supermarket) TSh 3,500–6,000
Zanzibar spice blend (specialty, 100g) TSh 5,000–20,000
Monthly groceries for 1 person TSh 400,000–1,200,000
Dining Out
Nyama choma (iconic Tanzanian grilled meat) TSh 15,000–40,000
Local rice / beans lunch (mama lishe stall) TSh 3,000–8,000
Casual restaurant meal for 1 TSh 15,000–40,000
Coffee (espresso at café) TSh 5,000–15,000
Safari beer in a bar (0.5L) TSh 5,000–10,000
Dinner for 2 (mid-range restaurant) TSh 70,000–200,000
Rent
1-bed apartment, Dar es Salaam expat area TSh 1,200,000–3,500,000/month
3-bed house, Dar compound / gated estate TSh 3,500,000–10,000,000+/month
Arusha / Moshi 2-bed apartment TSh 800,000–2,500,000/month
Room in shared flat, Dar TSh 400,000–900,000/month
Utilities (electricity, water, security / guard) TSh 200,000–1,100,000/month
Serviced / furnished compound unit TSh 2,500,000–7,000,000/month
Transport
Dala-dala minibus (Dar, per ride) TSh 500–1,000
BRT bus (Dar rapid transit) TSh 750–1,500
Bolt / Uber city ride TSh 5,000–30,000
Dar–Zanzibar ferry (tourist class, one way) TSh 89,000–153,000
Domestic flight Dar–Kilimanjaro (one way) TSh 153,000–637,500
Petrol (1L, regulated pump price) TSh 3,000–3,500
Used car TSh 15,000,000–50,000,000
Health & Insurance
Muhimbili National Hospital (public, Dar) Fees apply; limited specialist capacity
Private GP consultation TSh 50,000–200,000
Private specialist consultation TSh 100,000–400,000
International health insurance (individual, annual) TSh 2,550,000–12,750,000
Medical evacuation insurance — AMREF / Flying Doctors (annual) TSh 500,000–1,200,000
Utilities
Electricity for apartment (TANESCO, monthly) TSh 80,000–300,000
Water / tank deliveries (monthly) TSh 20,000–200,000
Home internet TSh 70,000–250,000/month
Mobile data bundle TSh 10,000–50,000/month
Generator fuel / backup power (outages common) TSh 50,000–300,000/month
Childcare
Private nursery (monthly) TSh 500,000–2,500,000
International school (annual) TSh 12,750,000–63,750,000+
Nanny / housekeeper (monthly) TSh 250,000–800,000
Private tutor TSh 30,000–80,000/hour
Leisure
Gym membership (monthly) TSh 80,000–300,000
Safari park entry (Serengeti / Ngorongoro, per day) TSh 127,500–204,000
Kilimanjaro multi-day trek (full guided package) TSh 3,000,000–8,000,000
Zanzibar snorkelling / dive trip TSh 100,000–300,000/person
Cinema ticket (Century Cinemax, Dar) TSh 15,000–30,000
Haircut (men's) TSh 10,000–30,000
Haircut (women's) TSh 20,000–80,000
Local beach day (Bagamoyo / Kunduchi) TSh 10,000–30,000
Cost of Living
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