Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $858 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $438 in Dodoma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $641 in Dodoma, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $845 in Dodoma, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 96% more than Dodoma, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Dar es Salaam and Dodoma are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 36% lower, Dodoma 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.75 TZS 7,158

$3.76 TZS 9,763

-26.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.48 TZS 50.6K

$19.50 TZS 50.7K

-0.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 TZS 19.7K

$9.78 TZS 25.4K

-22.39%

Cappuccino

$2.01 TZS 5,234

$1.90 TZS 4,943

5.79%

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

$0.36 TZS 927

$0.41 TZS 1,053

-12.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 TZS 624

$0.17 TZS 436

41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,791

$0.88 TZS 2,294

21.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,056

$3.22 TZS 8,379

-39.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,759

$0.85 TZS 2,220

24.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 TZS 2,046

$0.74 TZS 1,924

6.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,844

$1.01 TZS 2,617

7.92%

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,145

$1.95 TZS 5,069

1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.3K

$5.65 TZS 14.7K

65.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.93 TZS 15.4K

$7.08 TZS 18.4K

-16.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.27 TZS 11.1K

$3.97 TZS 10.3K

7.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 TZS 6,719

$2.55 TZS 6,617

1.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,637

$0.97 TZS 2,527

4.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,663

$0.76 TZS 1,969

34.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,720

$1.58 TZS 4,097

-33.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,499

$1.08 TZS 2,815

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,109

$1.78 TZS 4,619

-11.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 TZS 2,158

$0.46 TZS 1,203

80.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,050

$0.40 TZS 1,046

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,226

$1.54 TZS 3,998

30.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.81 TZS 17.7K

$3.70 TZS 9,612

84.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 TZS 2,500

$0.85 TZS 2,205

12.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,203

$1.28 TZS 3,326

26.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 622

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.21 TZS 44.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 TZS 3,736

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,029

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.31 TZS 34.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,233

$1.11 TZS 2,896

11.71%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.8K TZS 43.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.2K TZS 44.7M

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

$96.3 TZS 250.4K

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

$10.72 TZS 27.9K

$19.52 TZS 50.7K

-45.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.60 TZS 84.7K

$18.95 TZS 49.3K

72.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 248.7K

$57.7 TZS 150.1K

65.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

$7.89 TZS 20.5K

-40.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

$3.93 TZS 10.2K

19.34%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$256 TZS 664.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 66.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 TZS 112.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.89 TZS 119.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 TZS 219.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 TZS 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 TZS 671.1K

$97.7 TZS 253.8K

164.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 TZS 1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,514 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,096 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 TZS 722.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dodoma: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $20.00 in Dodoma. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Dar es Salaam vs $149 in Dodoma – so Dodoma 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

Dar es Salaam vs Dodoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 96%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,287 per month in Dar es Salaam and $656 in Dodoma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Dar es Salaam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam and $20.00 in Dodoma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dodoma, where all-in costs run around $438, than in Dar es Salaam at $858. In Dodoma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Dar es Salaam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.