Living Abroad

Embrace the World: Your Passport to Adventure and Growth!

Home » Living in Tanzania

Living in Tanzania

Known for its majestic Serengeti plains, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar beaches, Tanzania has become a popular destination for expats seeking incredible nature, cultural experiences and an affordable cost of living. This guide covers everything you need to know about living in Tanzania – from the reasons to move there, pros and cons, costs, quality of life, culture and best places to settle.

Why Move to Tanzania?

There are many attractive reasons drawing expats to live in Tanzania:

  • Breathtaking landscapes from Mt. Kilimanjaro to the spice plantations of Zanzibar offering hiking, beaches, safaris and more.
  • Lower cost of living, especially housing, groceries, utilities and domestic help compared to Western countries.
  • Slower pace of life with friendly locals. Great place to escape the rat race.
  • Abundant wildlife and biodiversity with impressive national parks and conservation efforts.
  • Fascinating cultural experiences from Stone Town to Maasai villages to lively Dar es Salaam.
  • Swahili is widely spoken. English proficiency is higher than surrounding countries.
  • Comfortable year-round tropical climate keeps days warm and nights cool.
  • Improving infrastructure from modern malls in cities to well-maintained highways.
  • Political stability ever since independence with committed democratization efforts.

Living in Tanzania: Pros and Cons

While Tanzania is appealing, there are some challenges to consider as well:

Pros

  1. Breathtaking natural beauty and wildlife
  2. Slower pace and friendly people
  3. Lower cost of living
  4. Fascinating cultural experiences
  5. Tropical climate year-round
  6. English widely spoken
  7. Political stability
  8. Improving infrastructure
  9. Laidback beach destinations

Cons

  1. Underdeveloped healthcare system
  2. High malaria risk in some areas
  3. Potential for political corruption
  4. Lack of amenities in rural areas
  5. Unreliable power and internet access
  6. Poor drinking water sanitation
  7. Uneven primary education quality
  8. Bureaucratic processes for residency or business
  9. Lack of public transit outside major cities

Rural areas or smaller cities may lack first-world comforts. But Tanzania offers a high life quality for those seeking nature, culture and affordability in exchange.

The Cost of Living in Tanzania

While costs have increased in recent years, Tanzania remains highly affordable for expats:

  • Housing – Modern apartments in cities average $500-800 per month to rent. Buying is also reasonable at $100-200 per square meter.
  • Food – Groceries at local markets cost about $200-300 per month for two people. Imported goods are pricier. Dining out costs $5-10 per meal.
  • Utilities – Electricity and water average around $150 per month total. Internet plans start around $30 per month.
  • Transportation – Gasoline is around $1 per liter. Taxis within cities run just a few dollars per ride. Used cars can be purchased inexpensively.
  • Healthcare – Public healthcare is very basic. Expats need private clinics that run $50-100 per visit or insurance from $150-300 per month.
  • Education – International schools average $5,000-10,000 per year. Public schools often have overcrowded classrooms and limited resources.
  • Recreation – Activities like gym memberships, theater tickets or hiking excursions run just a few dollars each. Domestic help is affordable.

Quality of Life in Tanzania

While some gaps exist, Tanzania offers sound quality of life overall:

  1. Natural Environment – Abundant wildlife and biodiversity with nature protection. Lush countryside and clean air outside cities.
  2. Safety & Security – Low rates of violent crime allow relatively safe walking and travel throughout the country.
  3. Healthcare – Public healthcare is lacking but private clinics offer adequate urgent care. Preventative medicine is not the norm.
  4. Infrastructure – Tanzania has made major infrastructure improvements in recent decades including ports, airports, highways and telecoms.
  5. Economy – Rapid real GDP growth averaging 6-7% annually. But youth unemployment remains over 30%. Reliance on agriculture.
  6. Governance – Regarded as a stable democracy. But corruption issues persist impacting ease of doing business.
  7. Personal Freedom – Religion, press and personal liberties are maintained. But LGBTQ rights and gender equality have far to go.
  8. Work-life balance – Locals enjoy a relaxed pace of life with weekends devoted to family time. Expats often escape the rat race.

A Beginner’s Guide to Tanzanian Culture

Here is a brief overview of Tanzanian culture and customs:

  • Culturally and linguistically diverse with over 120 ethnic groups, but united as Tanzanians.
  • Typical greetings include handshakes, slight bows, and for close acquaintances cheek kisses (right cheek first).
  • Religion is important. 61% are Christian, 35% Muslim and 4% traditional beliefs or other faiths.
  • Family bonds and community reciprocity are strong. Several generations may live together.
  • Swahili is the national language while English is the official business language. Knowing “hujambo” (hello) goes a long way.
  • Food varies by region from ugali cornmeal to rice dishes to grilled meats and fresh seafood.
  • Arts, crafts and music thrive, from Makonde wood carvings to sensational local dance troupes.
  • Football is the national obsession. People love to gather and watch matches.
  • Handmade kanga and kikoi fabrics are used to make traditional dresses and home decor.
  • Hakuna matata – “no worries” attitudes and humor help Tanzanians stay relaxed.

Best Places to Live in Tanzania

Popular places for expats to settle in Tanzania include:

  1. Dar es Salaam – The largest city and economic center boasts a colonial port, bustling markets, and urban amenities.
  2. Arusha – Northern city located near Mt. Kilimanjaro and Serengeti safaris. Lively expat community.
  3. Zanzibar – Paradise islands with stunning beaches, atmospheric Stone Town, and spice plantations.
  4. Moshi – Pleasant town surrounded by coffee plantations and waterfalls below Mt. Kilimanjaro.
  5. Mbeya – Scenic southern highland town with cool climate and charming locals.

No matter if you prefer gorgeous beaches, serene villages or modern conveniences, Tanzania has diverse options for an incredible lifestyle. With enthralling nature, culture and affordability, Tanzania is East Africa’s standout gem that captures the hearts of so many newcomers who quickly come to call it home.

Emily Johnson

One thought on “Living in Tanzania

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Back to top