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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $201 per month in Arusha vs $449 in Dodoma, rent included.

A couple spends around $358 per month in Arusha vs $644 in Dodoma, rent included.

A family of three spends $514 per month in Arusha vs $839 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

$3.40 TZS 8,767

$3.75 TZS 9,677

-9.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.94 TZS 72.1K

$19.12 TZS 49.3K

46.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 TZS 23.4K

$9.40 TZS 24.2K

-3.30%

Cappuccino

$1.70 TZS 4,382

$1.91 TZS 4,914

-10.99%

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

$0.43 TZS 1,113

$0.41 TZS 1,054

4.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 799

$0.22 TZS 560

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 TZS 2,790

$0.86 TZS 2,223

25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 TZS 7,677

$3.35 TZS 8,644

-11.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 TZS 1,634

$0.91 TZS 2,349

-30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 TZS 1,554

$0.76 TZS 1,948

-21.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,336

$1.04 TZS 2,670

-12.50%

Eggs

$1.70 TZS 4,384

$1.97 TZS 5,073

-13.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.68 TZS 14.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 TZS 17.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.80 TZS 9,801

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 TZS 6,308

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,486

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,054

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,027

$1.59 TZS 4,092

-50.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,048

$1.08 TZS 2,797

-62.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,571

$1.76 TZS 4,537

-43.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 TZS 1,287

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 TZS 1,212

$0.38 TZS 975

23.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.58 TZS 4,071

Wine (Bottle)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 TZS 2,170

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 TZS 3,168

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 497

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 TZS 4,992

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 TZS 19.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,184

$1.15 TZS 2,967

6.96%

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

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$19.67 TZS 50.7K

-52.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 TZS 129.7K

$19.27 TZS 49.7K

160.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.0 TZS 152.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 TZS 19.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.97 TZS 10.2K

$3.78 TZS 9,743

5.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K TZS 26.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.8 TZS 244.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 TZS 759.3K

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

Last update for Arusha: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dodoma: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha versus $19.00 in Dodoma. Groceries tell a different story – $36.00 in Arusha vs $148 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: $201 in Arusha, $449 in Dodoma – roughly 123% apart. Dodoma costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $302 per month in Arusha and $674 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 $201 in Arusha and $449 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 $201 in Arusha and $449 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.