MigrantoCost of living in Tanzania
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
TZS 112,000
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
TZS 49,600richest 20%
TZS 360,000
Tanzania pairs a broad farming base with a real tourist trade — the safari parks and Zanzibar — and the two pull costs in opposite directions. For an ordinary life, local food and labor keep things cheap; in the visitor enclaves, prices climb to meet what tourists will pay. Having a coastline helps, since imports arrive by sea rather than the long overland routes its landlocked neighbors depend on, but the gap between a comfortable life and a lean one stays wide.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Tanzania
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Tanzania and how much you could have left each month
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Cost of living in Tanzania
TZS 49,600/mo
vs TZS 2,090,000 in your country
Take-home
TZS 475,000
vs TZS 3,130,000 in your country
Potential savings
TZS 425,000
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Tanzania compare
Across the globe, Tanzania is one of the cheaper places to settle, and it holds a low position within its region. Behind it are modest local wages and a shilling that doesn't stretch far abroad — so for someone arriving with foreign earnings, an ordinary life costs strikingly little, tourist hotspots aside.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Tanzania?
A typical person in Tanzania spends about TZS 112,000 a month — around TZS 1,350,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Tanzania in US dollars?
The cost of living in Tanzania is about $43 a month, or roughly $516 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Tanzania?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about TZS 49,600 a month per person, a typical one around TZS 112,000, and a comfortable life around TZS 154,000. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is the average salary in Tanzania enough to live on?
Yes, with room to spare. Average spending is about TZS 112,000 a month, while the average take-home pay in Tanzania is about TZS 501,000. For more on incomes, see salaries in Tanzania.
Is Tanzania an expensive country to live in?
No. Tanzania is more expensive than 5% of countries worldwide and ranks 44th of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
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Living in Tanzania
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