Currency in Tanzania

Planning a trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar? One important thing to research before your trip is the local currency and payment methods. In this guide by Altezza Travel experts, we delve into everything you need to know about money in Tanzania. From the official currency used in the country to payment options, currency exchange, and even a closer look at the banknotes. What is the currency of Tanzania? How much money can you bring to Tanzania? How to exchange money in Tanzania? Can you pay in USD in Tanzania? How do Tanzanian schillings look? - You will find the answers to these questions and more in our article. Understanding the ins and outs of Tanzania money will ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience during your stay.

What is the currency in Tanzania? And in Zanzibar?

The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling. It is also used in Zanzibar, as the islands are part of the United Republic of Tanzania. So, in Tanzania and Zanzibar, the national currency is the Tanzanian shilling.

Its international currency code is TZS. Remember this abbreviation if you plan to visit Tanzania. You will come across it in currency converters, exchange offices, and banks.

One Tanzanian shilling is divided into 100 cents. However, you won't need cents. Theoretically, there are coins in denominations of 5 cents and higher, as well as coins of 1 shilling and above. But in practice, all coins below 50 shillings are out of circulation. Generally, the current prices in Tanzania are such that you are unlikely to need coins, and will mostly use banknotes of 1,000 shillings or higher.

It's worth mentioning that "shilling" should be specified as Tanzanian shilling, as other countries also use the term for their currencies. There are the Kenyan shilling, Ugandan shilling, Somali shilling, and even the Somaliland shilling. The banknotes of the latter are very colorful and perhaps the most beautiful among all shillings, but Somaliland is an unrecognized state. With Tanzania and Tanzanian shillings, everything is official and internationally recognized in this regard.

What can you pay with in Tanzania?

In Tanzania, cash is widely accepted, and non-cash payments are also used in the tourism industry and many other places.

Paying with cash

Since March 2025, only Tanzanian shillings are accepted for cash payments within the country. Foreign nationals and tourists must exchange US dollars, euros, pounds sterling, or other foreign currencies at banks or licensed exchange bureaus.

An exception applies to the tourism industry: tour operators are permitted to issue invoices and accept payments in foreign currencies when dealing with international visitors. However, for everyday expenses, such as in restaurants, shops, taxis, and other local services, travelers must use Tanzanian shillings.

When exchanging US dollars, keep in mind that most banks and exchange bureaus only accept bills issued after 2009. Older notes are often declined due to counterfeiting concerns, so be sure to bring newer bills if you plan to exchange US currency during your trip.

Paying by card

In Tanzania, you can pay with a bank card, at least in places where they regularly deal with tourists, such as hotels, tour operators, and national parks. However, you need to consider commissions and taxes.

The standard fee for cashless payments in Tanzania is 3.5%, though the total cost to you may be higher. This includes not only the local transaction fee but also any additional charges from your own bank, such as currency conversion fees, especially if your account is in euros, for example, and you're making a payment in Tanzanian shillings.

Before traveling to Tanzania, there is one important thing to do: inform your bank about the dates and location of your trip so that they don't block your card when used abroad, suspecting fraud. This is a common occurrence, and unblocking takes time.

In general, your bank card will be accepted here. There are ATMs in all major and medium-sized cities, and you can also find them in other places frequented by tourists. International banking systems such as Mastercard and Visa operate in Tanzania. Keep in mind that you can only withdraw Tanzanian shillings from ATMs; they do not dispense US dollars.

What's the best way to pay?

Our practical advice is this: when traveling to Tanzania, bring your bank cards for safety, but keep at least 25% of your planned travel budget in cash. Be sure to notify your bank in advance, letting them know where and when you intend to use your cards to avoid the risk of them being blocked.

If you plan to pay in cash, avoid exchanging too many dollars for Tanzanian shillings. You won’t be able to take shillings out of the country, and converting them back to dollars later usually comes with a poor exchange rate, potentially losing up to 10%.

What else do you need to know about money in Tanzania?

If during your vacation you realize that you don't have enough cash in the required currency or need to exchange it, you can easily do so at local bank branches.

Where to exchange currency?

It's best to exchange currency at banks, which are available in every city. Currency exchange offices often use bank exchange rates as well. They are located in places frequented by tourists, such as airports and busy city streets. Of course, exchange offices can have different rates, so always compare with the official exchange rate.

Exchanging currency on the street, especially large sums, is not recommended as it can be unsafe. If you need a small amount of local currency, you can ask to exchange dollars at a store or restaurant.

What is the exchange rate?

You can check the current exchange rate on xe.com or oanda.com. For example, the current exchange rate from US dollars to Tanzanian shillings — USD/TZS, and the exchange rate from euros to shillings — EUR/TZS.

What are the prices like in Tanzania?

To give you a rough idea of local prices, here are the approximate costs of some common items:

• Water, soft drinks, and juices: from 1,000 to 10,000 TZS
• A bottle of wine: from 15,000 to 50,000 TZS
• Snacks and chocolate: from 5,000 to 20,000 TZS

In tourist cafés, a meal will typically cost between 25,000 and 60,000 TZS. In restaurants, expect to pay anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 TZS. Naturally, prices vary depending on the region, the type of restaurant, and the specific dishes you order.

For a pizza in a restaurant, you can expect to pay between 15,000 and 25,000 shillings, depending on its size, while a cup of good coffee will cost around 5,000 shillings. The cost of a lunch in a good café, excluding alcohol, should be estimated starting from 40,000 shillings. In a local café, you can have a quick snack for about 10,000 shillings.

How to leave tips?

Tips can be given in both currencies, either US dollars or Tanzanian shillings. In good restaurants and cafes, it is customary to leave up to 10% of the bill amount as a tip. In hotels, it is common to give 1-3 US dollars to those who help with luggage. It is better to check with the managers of the tour companies about tipping guides during excursions.

In places crowded with tourists, locals may persistently offer their assistance, such as showing directions, helping with luggage, accompanying, or even organizing impromptu "tours". Only accept help if you genuinely need it. However, it's best not to overly reward them with large amounts of tips, as it only attracts more persistent individuals in tourist hotspots.

Are there any currency restrictions?

Tanzanian legislation prohibits non-residents from importing or exporting Tanzanian shillings. The exception is made only for citizens of neighboring Kenya and Uganda. So, if you have any local currency left at the end of your trip, it's better to spend or exchange it.

Also, keep in mind that if you have more than $10,000 in international currency per person upon arrival in Tanzania, you need to declare it. The same applies when leaving the country.

Local ATMs have a technical limit: you can withdraw no more than 400,000 shillings at a time. However, the number of withdrawals is not limited.

Banknotes and Coins of Tanzania

Currently, the 2011 series banknotes are in circulation. We will show them to you so that you can familiarize yourself with and recognize all the denominations. Let's start with the most common ones.

The 10,000 Tanzanian shilling banknote is the highest denomination and is red in color. It features the head of Tanzania's largest terrestrial animal, the elephant, as well as the headquarters of the Bank of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

From the inscription, you can infer that "shilling" in Swahili is "shilingi." The denomination is written in words, where "elfu" means "thousand," and "kumi" means "ten."

The 5,000 shilling banknote is violet in color. It features the head of a rhinoceros and a gold processing plant.

The words "elfu tano" mean "five thousand" in Swahili. The reverse side of each banknote duplicates the denomination in English.

The 2,000 shilling banknote is orange. The front side depicts the head of a lion, while the reverse side shows an old Arab fort in Zanzibar, the most famous building on the island.

The word "mbili" means "two" in Swahili. By the way, knowing how to count up to ten in Swahili may come in handy when dealing with a souvenir vendor who doesn't speak English.

Finally, there is the 1,000 Tanzanian shilling banknote, which is blue. On the front side, it features not an animal but a person. Specifically, it is the first President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, who led the country in the 1960s-1980s, during its early years of independence. You will come across his portrait everywhere you go. The reverse side showcases the Tanzanian presidential residence.

The word "moja" means "one" in Swahili.

There is also an officially circulated 500 shilling banknote, but it is rarely encountered and of limited use. It is greenish in color and features the images of another politician - the first President of Zanzibar, Abeid Amani Karume, as well as university buildings and students in Dar es Salaam.

As for small change, the most commonly used denomination is a coin of the same value - 500. There are also coins in 200, 100, and 50 shillings. They are given as change in stores. Tourists may find these coins interesting as souvenirs. However, it is important to note that taking local currency out of Tanzania is officially prohibited for tourists unless a few coins get lost in your wallet among coins from other countries.

The most interesting find would be a 22-millimeter coin with a denomination of 50 shillings. It is a brass-colored heptagon with the profile of the second President of Tanzania and silhouettes of rhinoceroses. The 100-shilling coin depicts a herd of leaping antelopes, the 200-shilling coin features a family of lions peeking out from the grass, and the 500-shilling coin showcases an African buffalo, a symbol of Tanzania's wild nature. Encountering coins with denominations below 50 shillings is very rare.

Additionally, there are older 2003 series banknotes still in circulation. They have a similar appearance to the modern banknotes, except that the animals on them are depicted in full rather than just their heads. These older banknotes are gradually being withdrawn from circulation, so they are very rarely encountered. However, they remain legal tender in Tanzania.

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