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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $548 per month in Arusha vs $424 in Dodoma, rent included.

A couple spends around $883 per month in Arusha vs $617 in Dodoma, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,218 per month in Arusha vs $809 in Dodoma, rent included.

Arusha costs about 29% more than Dodoma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arusha and Dodoma are more affordable than the global median – Arusha 60% lower, Dodoma 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 TZS 8,952

$2.70 TZS 7,078

26.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.47 TZS 71.9K

$18.61 TZS 48.7K

47.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.44 TZS 24.7K

$7.77 TZS 20.3K

21.49%

Cappuccino

$1.77 TZS 4,624

$1.91 TZS 5,006

-7.33%

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

$0.96 TZS 2,504

$0.31 TZS 809

209.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 872

$0.89 TZS 2,333

-62.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 TZS 2,690

$0.82 TZS 2,137

25.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 TZS 7,481

$3.28 TZS 8,599

-12.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 TZS 2,538

$0.86 TZS 2,247

12.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 TZS 1,757

$0.83 TZS 2,182

-19.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 TZS 4,441

$1.01 TZS 2,652

68.32%

Eggs

$1.73 TZS 4,540

$2.15 TZS 5,625

-19.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.65 TZS 14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 TZS 17.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 TZS 5,793

$2.47 TZS 6,471

-10.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 TZS 2,305

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 TZS 1,910

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 TZS 2,018

$1.54 TZS 4,023

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 TZS 1,192

$1.03 TZS 2,696

-55.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,801

$1.72 TZS 4,512

-37.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 TZS 1,192

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 TZS 2,067

$0.37 TZS 962

113.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.48 TZS 3,865

$1.53 TZS 4,017

-3.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.76 TZS 9,860

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 TZS 2,374

$0.89 TZS 2,323

2.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 TZS 2,562

$1.20 TZS 3,151

-18.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 TZS 566

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.44 TZS 19.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 TZS 3,519

$1.32 TZS 3,445

1.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$27.99 TZS 73.3K

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

$8.27 TZS 21.7K

$19.19 TZS 50.2K

-56.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.52 TZS 121.8K

$19.17 TZS 50.2K

142.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 TZS 167.1K

$55.6 TZS 145.6K

14.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.60 TZS 19.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 TZS 12.3K

$3.86 TZS 10.1K

21.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,551 TZS 19.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.62 TZS 20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 TZS 743.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 TZS 613.4K

$94.3 TZS 246.9K

148.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 TZS 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 TZS 1.4M

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

Last update for Arusha: September 14, 2026

Last update for Dodoma: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Arusha versus $19.00 in Dodoma. Groceries tell a different story – $64.0 in Arusha vs $147 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: $548 in Arusha, $424 in Dodoma – roughly 29% apart. Arusha costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $822 per month in Arusha and $636 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 $27.00 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 $548 in Arusha and $424 in Dodoma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $548 in Arusha and $424 in Dodoma, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Dodoma – 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 Dodoma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arusha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.