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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $720 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $336 in Njombe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $516 in Njombe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,553 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $696 in Njombe, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 114% more than Njombe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dar es Salaam and Njombe are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 48% lower, Njombe 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 TZS 5,103

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.12 TZS 50.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.32 TZS 21.9K

Cappuccino

$1.90 TZS 4,985

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

$0.34 TZS 905

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 578

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 TZS 2,548

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 TZS 4,883

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 TZS 2,122

$0.96 TZS 2,525

-15.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TZS 1,492

$0.59 TZS 1,548

-3.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,766

$0.98 TZS 2,578

7.14%

Eggs

$1.93 TZS 5,063

$1.38 TZS 3,637

39.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 TZS 12.1K

$3.76 TZS 9,875

22.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

$3.05 TZS 8,009

26.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 TZS 6,537

$1.54 TZS 4,054

61.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,763

$1.75 TZS 4,596

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,608

$1.78 TZS 4,670

-44.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,718

$2.14 TZS 5,613

-51.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,414

$1.36 TZS 3,574

-32.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,800

$2.41 TZS 6,333

-55.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 TZS 2,283

$0.40 TZS 1,047

117.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 TZS 1,012

$0.40 TZS 1,046

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,057

$1.68 TZS 4,426

36.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

$1.88 TZS 4,941

260.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 TZS 2,153

$1.31 TZS 3,438

-37.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 TZS 4,003

$2.07 TZS 5,439

-26.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 630

$0.27 TZS 715

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.92 TZS 39.2K

$19.71 TZS 51.8K

-24.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 TZS 4,234

$1.47 TZS 3,864

9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,075

$1.10 TZS 2,894

40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$5.61 TZS 14.7K

134.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 TZS 3,467

$1.23 TZS 3,228

7.32%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.8M

$17.8K TZS 46.8M

-4.36%

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

$26.0K TZS 68.4M

$11.2K TZS 29.6M

131.31%

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

$55.7 TZS 146.5K

$20.40 TZS 53.6K

173.09%

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

$8.90 TZS 23.4K

$15.27 TZS 40.2K

-41.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.85 TZS 91.6K

$56.6 TZS 148.9K

-38.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.3 TZS 211.1K

$22.60 TZS 59.4K

255.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 TZS 22.2K

$7.39 TZS 19.4K

14.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 TZS 13.4K

$3.70 TZS 9,738

38.38%

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

$564 TZS 1.5M

$315 TZS 828.3K

79.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K TZS 35.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.28 TZS 37.5K

$15.27 TZS 40.2K

-6.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.97 TZS 68.3K

$20.84 TZS 54.8K

24.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.83 TZS 115.2K

$16.93 TZS 44.5K

158.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 TZS 173.8K

$14.97 TZS 39.4K

341.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 TZS 1.5M

$114 TZS 300.0K

412.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 TZS 529.7K

$37.47 TZS 98.5K

437.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

$192 TZS 504.1K

616.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 TZS 1.1M

$112 TZS 293.7K

284.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,059 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 TZS 727.3K

$256 TZS 672.3K

8.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

52.08%

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: August 31, 2026

Last update for Njombe: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $585 in Dar es Salaam versus $114 in Njombe. 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 8% higher in Dar es Salaam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Njombe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 114%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,079 per month in Dar es Salaam and $504 in Njombe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 32% less in Njombe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Njombe, where all-in costs run around $336, than in Dar es Salaam at $720. In Njombe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Njombe – 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 Njombe. 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.