Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Tanzania 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Tanzania is 33.3% lower than in South Africa (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Tanzania is 33.7% lower than in South Africa | |
| Rent Prices in Tanzania are 34.9% lower than in South Africa | |
| Restaurant Prices in Tanzania are 43.8% lower than in South Africa | |
| Groceries Prices in Tanzania are 24.3% lower than in South Africa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Tanzania is 75.5% lower than in South Africa | |
Restaurants | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
180.00 R (28,923.53 TSh) |
43.56 R (7,000.00 TSh) |
-75.8 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
650.00 R (104,446.09 TSh) |
311.17 R (50,000.00 TSh) |
-52.1 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
90.00 R (14,461.77 TSh) |
124.47 R (20,000.00 TSh) |
+38.3 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
40.00 R (6,427.45 TSh) |
15.56 R (2,500.00 TSh) |
-61.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
45.00 R (7,230.88 TSh) |
31.12 R (5,000.00 TSh) |
-30.9 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
37.18 R (5,974.10 TSh) |
32.11 R (5,160.30 TSh) |
-13.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
18.04 R (2,899.41 TSh) |
6.50 R (1,043.75 TSh) |
-64.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
14.05 R (2,257.75 TSh) |
4.07 R (654.35 TSh) |
-71.0 % |
Markets | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
19.60 R (3,149.37 TSh) |
15.77 R (2,533.29 TSh) |
-19.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
15.94 R (2,562.02 TSh) |
11.21 R (1,801.77 TSh) |
-29.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
13.01 R (2,090.97 TSh) |
7.65 R (1,229.48 TSh) |
-41.2 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
40.84 R (6,563.18 TSh) |
32.56 R (5,232.73 TSh) |
-20.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
62.04 R (9,969.31 TSh) |
62.46 R (10,035.74 TSh) |
+0.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
37.14 R (5,968.43 TSh) |
34.85 R (5,600.13 TSh) |
-6.2 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
55.32 R (8,889.07 TSh) |
29.64 R (4,762.73 TSh) |
-46.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.88 R (2,070.26 TSh) |
17.41 R (2,797.16 TSh) |
+35.1 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
11.93 R (1,917.70 TSh) |
7.13 R (1,146.08 TSh) |
-40.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
12.29 R (1,974.78 TSh) |
7.13 R (1,146.35 TSh) |
-42.0 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
12.63 R (2,028.97 TSh) |
6.96 R (1,118.86 TSh) |
-44.9 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
10.41 R (1,672.58 TSh) |
6.63 R (1,065.94 TSh) |
-36.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
10.96 R (1,761.78 TSh) |
9.79 R (1,573.40 TSh) |
-10.7 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
19.32 R (3,104.46 TSh) |
9.89 R (1,588.89 TSh) |
-48.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
17.58 R (2,824.57 TSh) |
6.96 R (1,119.05 TSh) |
-60.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
80.00 R (12,854.90 TSh) |
93.35 R (15,000.00 TSh) |
+16.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
24.14 R (3,878.74 TSh) |
16.22 R (2,606.33 TSh) |
-32.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
31.59 R (5,076.55 TSh) |
23.59 R (3,790.91 TSh) |
-25.3 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
53.50 R (8,596.72 TSh) |
31.12 R (5,000.00 TSh) |
-41.8 % |
Transportation | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
27.00 R (4,338.53 TSh) |
4.05 R (650.00 TSh) |
-85.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
995.00 R (159,882.86 TSh) |
242.71 R (39,000.00 TSh) |
-75.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
20.00 R (3,213.73 TSh) |
24.89 R (4,000.00 TSh) |
+24.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
24.14 R (3,878.99 TSh) |
40.06 R (6,437.38 TSh) |
+66.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
126.00 R (20,246.47 TSh) |
217.82 R (35,000.00 TSh) |
+72.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
22.43 R (3,603.95 TSh) |
18.54 R (2,979.31 TSh) |
-17.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
589,000.00 R (94,644,223.09 TSh) |
275,678.00 R (44,297,674.00 TSh) |
-53.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
491,485.04 R (78,974,906.23 TSh) |
407,382.02 R (65,460,703.75 TSh) |
-17.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
2,122.44 R (341,047.02 TSh) |
1,130.11 R (181,593.41 TSh) |
-46.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
578.43 R (92,945.67 TSh) |
176.08 R (28,294.12 TSh) |
-69.6 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
661.73 R (106,330.86 TSh) |
621.85 R (99,923.08 TSh) |
-6.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
553.97 R (89,015.18 TSh) |
824.59 R (132,500.00 TSh) |
+48.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
173.85 R (27,934.69 TSh) |
101.13 R (16,250.00 TSh) |
-41.8 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
120.00 R (19,282.35 TSh) |
74.68 R (12,000.00 TSh) |
-37.8 % |
Childcare | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,619.20 R (581,556.54 TSh) |
9,753.27 R (1,567,217.21 TSh) |
+169.5 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
88,522.70 R (14,224,383.61 TSh) |
179,939.13 R (28,913,750.00 TSh) |
+103.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
874.86 R (140,578.24 TSh) |
225.59 R (36,250.00 TSh) |
-74.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
546.40 R (87,798.54 TSh) |
373.40 R (60,000.00 TSh) |
-31.7 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,632.22 R (262,275.50 TSh) |
610.66 R (98,125.00 TSh) |
-62.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
1,422.29 R (228,542.95 TSh) |
727.35 R (116,875.00 TSh) |
-48.9 % |
Rent Per Month | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
7,995.41 R (1,284,752.33 TSh) |
7,524.56 R (1,209,092.86 TSh) |
-5.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
6,617.64 R (1,063,364.74 TSh) |
2,854.35 R (458,654.55 TSh) |
-56.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
16,350.00 R (2,627,220.79 TSh) |
12,952.26 R (2,081,250.00 TSh) |
-20.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
12,804.36 R (2,057,485.14 TSh) |
5,154.32 R (828,229.17 TSh) |
-59.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,689.48 R (271,476.83 TSh) |
2,296.66 R (369,041.87 TSh) |
+35.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,238.71 R (199,044.32 TSh) |
1,667.41 R (267,930.14 TSh) |
+34.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Africa Edit |
Tanzania Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
24,436.60 R (3,926,625.75 TSh) |
3,965.65 R (637,225.60 TSh) |
-83.8 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.28 | 14.50 | +28.5 % |
| Last update: | 3 February 2026 | 28 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 371 | 45 | |
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