Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Johor Bahru Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Johor Bahru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $703 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,061 in Johor Bahru, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,102 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,551 in Johor Bahru, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,501 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,042 in Johor Bahru, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 34% cheaper than Johor Bahru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Johor Bahru are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 49% lower, Johor Bahru 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.85 TZS 4,870

$3.64 MYR 14.81

-49.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 TZS 49.4K

$21.40 MYR 87.1

-12.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 TZS 22.2K

$4.95 MYR 20.14

70.91%

Cappuccino

$1.89 TZS 4,957

$3.03 MYR 12.31

-37.62%

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

$0.35 TZS 915

$0.84 MYR 3.43

-58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 579

$0.52 MYR 2.11

-57.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 TZS 2,456

$4.40 MYR 17.91

-78.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 TZS 4,837

$6.13 MYR 24.95

-69.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 TZS 2,077

$1.75 MYR 7.13

-54.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 TZS 1,605

$1.11 MYR 4.51

-45.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,860

$1.46 MYR 5.95

-25.34%

Eggs

$1.92 TZS 5,042

$1.76 MYR 7.16

9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 TZS 24.6K

$18.53 MYR 75.4

-49.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

$4.64 MYR 18.86

0.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.02 TZS 10.6K

$10.85 MYR 44.12

-62.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 TZS 6,621

$3.47 MYR 14.11

-27.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,660

$1.69 MYR 6.86

-40.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,614

$3.96 MYR 16.09

-75.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,758

$1.63 MYR 6.64

-35.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,434

$1.47 MYR 5.98

-36.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,663

$1.74 MYR 7.08

-41.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 TZS 2,139

$1.33 MYR 5.43

-39.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 TZS 933

$0.55 MYR 2.25

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,044

$4.28 MYR 17.41

-46.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.94 TZS 18.2K

$14.41 MYR 58.6

-51.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 TZS 2,215

$2.87 MYR 11.66

-70.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 TZS 4,121

$3.04 MYR 12.35

-48.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 626

$0.77 MYR 3.13

-68.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.67 TZS 38.6K

$12.45 MYR 50.6

17.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 TZS 4,366

$1.44 MYR 5.85

15.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 TZS 4,017

$0.71 MYR 2.89

115.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.46 TZS 35.4K

$9.69 MYR 39.44

38.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 TZS 3,494

$0.78 MYR 3.19

70.51%

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

$16.7K TZS 43.8M

$42.9K MYR 174.6K

-61.16%

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

$26.5K TZS 69.6M

$36.1K MYR 146.9K

-26.69%

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

$56.2 TZS 147.7K

$53.3 MYR 217

5.40%

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

$9.00 TZS 23.6K

$11.37 MYR 46.27

-20.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.47 TZS 90.6K

$29.26 MYR 119

17.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.5 TZS 219.5K

$40.41 MYR 164

106.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.09 TZS 21.3K

$5.62 MYR 22.86

43.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 TZS 13.7K

$4.86 MYR 19.75

7.41%

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

$577 TZS 1.5M

$167 MYR 679

245.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K TZS 34.6M

$4,463 MYR 18.2K

194.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.39 TZS 37.8K

$66.5 MYR 271

-78.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.26 TZS 69.0K

$16.90 MYR 68.8

55.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.87 TZS 118.0K

$81.7 MYR 332

-45.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.7 TZS 172.7K

$40.29 MYR 164

63.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$605 TZS 1.6M

$518 MYR 2,108

16.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 TZS 519.3K

$395 MYR 1,606

-49.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

$903 MYR 3,673

52.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 TZS 1.2M

$631 MYR 2,567

-29.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,540 TZS 4.0M

$2,032 MYR 8,266

-24.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,076 TZS 2.8M

$1,176 MYR 4,784

-8.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 TZS 743.9K

$1,090 MYR 4,434

-74.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

4.06

349.51%

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: September 5, 2026

Last update for Johor Bahru: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $605 in Dar es Salaam versus $518 in Johor Bahru. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 285% higher in Johor Bahru, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $21.00 in Johor Bahru. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $273 – making Dar es Salaam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Johor Bahru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Johor Bahru is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,055 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,591 in Johor Bahru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dar es Salaam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Dar es Salaam and $167 in Johor Bahru. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 81% more in Johor Bahru, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $703, than in Johor Bahru at $1,061. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johor Bahru it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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