Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and main port, a hot Swahili coastal metropolis of markets, museums, harbour life and island beaches, and the gateway to Zanzibar and Tanzania's safari circuit.
Local currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Dar es Salaam.
- Mid-range
- 300,000-500,000 TZS ($120-200)/day
- Luxury
- 900,000+ TZS ($360+)/day
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- 30,000-60,000 TZS ($12-24)
- Budget
- 50,000-100,000 TZS ($20-40)
- Midrange
- 150,000-330,000 TZS ($60-130)
- Luxury
- 380,000-520,000 TZS ($150-210)
Food
- Street
- 2,500-8,000 TZS ($1-3)
- Local
- 6,000-15,000 TZS ($2.40-6)
- Midrange
- 25,000-60,000 TZS ($10-24)
- Fine
- 80,000+ TZS ($32+)
Transport
- Bus
- BRT/daladala 500-1,000 TZS ($0.20-0.40)
- Taxi
- Bolt 6,000-25,000 TZS ($2.40-10) per ride
- Airport
- Bolt/taxi to airport 25,000-45,000 TZS ($10-18)
- Daytrip
- Bagamoyo by daladala 2,500-4,000 TZS ($1-1.60)
Activities
- Museum
- 12,000-15,000 TZS ($5-6)
- Sites
- Free-5,000 TZS (free-$2)
- Tour
- Island day trip 100,000-150,000 TZS ($40-60)
- Excursion
- Zanzibar ferry about $35-45 each way
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Dar es Salaam costs end-to-end.
3 Days traveller
250,000-1,500,000 TZS ($100-600)
7 Days traveller
550,000-3,500,000 TZS ($220-1,400)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Use the DART BRT and daladalas for city transport.
Eat at local eateries and street stalls.
Book the Zanzibar ferry economy class online.
Visit markets and Coco Beach for free sights.
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Kivukoni Fish Market
Watch the dawn auction
Coco Beach sunset
Walk the seafront
Askari Monument and waterfront walk
Historic centre stroll
Kigamboni foot ferry ride
Cross the harbour