By Lily and Sylvia

The money in Tanzania is called Tanzanian Shillings. Today’s exchange rate is 2,189.15 tsh (Tanzanian Shillings) to $1.00. It changes every day so we use the simpler version of 2,000 tsh to $1.00.

Here is the exchange rate we use while doing conversions. These are all of the bills and coins:

• 10,000 tsh = $5.00
• 5,000 tsh = $2.50
• 2,000 tsh = $1.00
• 1,000 tsh = $.50
• 500 tsh = $.25
• 200 tsh = $.10
• 100 tsh = $.05
• 50 tsh = $.02

Here are pictures of both sides of the money.

 

 

 

 

 

There are paper bills and coins. The highest bill is 10,000 tsh. It is the one we use the most.

 

 

Here are a few recent shopping lists.

• 4 potatoes, 6 tomatoes, 2 avocados, 2 mangoes, 4 bananas, bag of green beans, 2 carrots and 1 lemon: 10,500 tsh = $5.25.
• 2 loaves of bread and 6 eggs: 3,800 tsh = $1.90
• About 1 lb of ground beef: 6,900 tsh = $3.45
• 5 mL of fresh milk (about 1 quart): 1,200 tsh = $.60

Things that we eat at the cafeteria (they are pretty big portions, so we often share 3 dishes between the 4 of us)

• Chips mayai (french fries and eggs): 1,800 tsh = $.90
• Wali na harangue (rice and beans; Sylvia’s favorite): 1,000 tsh = $.50
• Chipsi na kuku (french fries and chicken): 1,500 tsh = $.55
• Wali na rosti and ndizi (rice with meat and bananas; Mama’s favorite): 1,900 tsh = $.95

Transportation

• Daladala ride one way (public transportation): 400 tsh = $.20
• Private taxi to downtown: 25,000 tsh = $12.50
• Bajaji ride (3 wheeled scooter) across town: 15,000 tsh = $7.50

 

(Rachel’s note: When I go shopping, I carry about 100,000 tsh which is a huge wad of cash for me! But it’s only about $50.00. And since nearly everything here is paid for in cash, I have to carry around a lot of cash all the time.)