Cost of Living Comparison Between Arusha and Dodoma Cost of Living Comparison Between Arusha and Dodoma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $200 per month in Arusha vs $448 in Dodoma, rent included.

A couple spends around $357 per month in Arusha vs $642 in Dodoma, rent included.

A family of three spends $514 per month in Arusha vs $835 in Dodoma, rent included.

Arusha is about 55% cheaper than Dodoma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arusha and Dodoma are more affordable than the global median – Arusha 85% lower, Dodoma 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 TZS 8,877

$3.69 TZS 9,670

-8.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.02 TZS 73.5K

$19.42 TZS 51.0K

44.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 TZS 24.0K

$9.40 TZS 24.7K

-2.55%

Cappuccino

$1.74 TZS 4,574

$1.95 TZS 5,116

-10.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 TZS 1,127

$0.37 TZS 978

16.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 878

$0.18 TZS 470

83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 TZS 2,832

$0.82 TZS 2,160

31.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 TZS 7,424

$3.34 TZS 8,773

-15.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 TZS 1,691

$0.84 TZS 2,201

-23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TZS 1,492

$0.81 TZS 2,121

-29.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 TZS 2,325

$1.03 TZS 2,707

-13.59%

Eggs

$1.72 TZS 4,500

$1.98 TZS 5,187

-13.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 TZS 18.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.95 TZS 10.4K

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 TZS 6,504

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,367

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,958

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$1.52 TZS 4,001

-50.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,066

$1.04 TZS 2,728

-60.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,572

$1.71 TZS 4,480

-42.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 TZS 1,294

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,217

$0.38 TZS 993

21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.51 TZS 3,960

Wine (Bottle)

$3.76 TZS 9,875

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 TZS 2,248

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 TZS 3,390

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 506

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 TZS 5,061

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 TZS 20.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,125

$1.11 TZS 2,923

7.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.46 TZS 24.8K

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

-51.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 TZS 133.1K

$19.14 TZS 50.2K

164.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 TZS 149.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 TZS 19.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 TZS 9,879

$3.82 TZS 10.0K

-1.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K TZS 26.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.0 TZS 257.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 TZS 757.2K

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arusha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Dodoma: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha versus $19.00 in Dodoma. Groceries tell a different story – $35.00 in Arusha vs $149 in Dodoma – so Arusha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arusha vs Dodoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $200 in Arusha, $448 in Dodoma – roughly 124% apart. Dodoma costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $300 per month in Arusha and $673 in Dodoma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha and $19.00 in Dodoma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $200 in Arusha and $448 in Dodoma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $200 in Arusha and $448 in Dodoma, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Arusha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Arusha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dodoma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.