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 $851 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $341 in Njombe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,361 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $510 in Njombe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $680 in Njombe, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 150% more than Njombe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dar es Salaam and Njombe are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 37% lower, Njombe 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,055

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.65 TZS 50.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 TZS 20.2K

Cappuccino

$2.03 TZS 5,235

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

$0.35 TZS 907

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 565

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,679

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,066

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,745

$1.01 TZS 2,604

4.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 1,991

$0.60 TZS 1,557

28.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,834

$0.93 TZS 2,406

18.28%

Eggs

$1.99 TZS 5,123

$1.37 TZS 3,535

45.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 TZS 23.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 TZS 15.3K

$3.85 TZS 9,924

54.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 TZS 10.9K

$3.05 TZS 7,878

38.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,641

$1.59 TZS 4,106

61.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,647

$1.73 TZS 4,459

-40.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,727

$1.81 TZS 4,669

-41.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,698

$0.97 TZS 2,511

8.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,444

$1.37 TZS 3,540

-30.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 TZS 4,038

$2.48 TZS 6,403

-36.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,183

$0.37 TZS 961

129.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,040

$0.38 TZS 974

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,176

$1.77 TZS 4,557

13.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.93 TZS 17.9K

$1.88 TZS 4,846

268.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,463

$1.37 TZS 3,542

-30.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,190

$2.07 TZS 5,334

-21.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 613

$0.26 TZS 667

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 TZS 45.2K

$20.36 TZS 52.5K

-13.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 TZS 3,778

$1.58 TZS 4,071

-7.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 TZS 4,039

$1.12 TZS 2,882

40.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.67 TZS 35.2K

$5.68 TZS 14.7K

140.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,205

$1.27 TZS 3,263

-2.36%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

$18.6K TZS 48.0M

-6.74%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

$11.8K TZS 30.5M

47.09%

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

$97.8 TZS 252.1K

$21.57 TZS 55.6K

353.22%

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

$10.72 TZS 27.6K

$15.20 TZS 39.2K

-29.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 TZS 81.3K

$57.9 TZS 149.3K

-45.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.0 TZS 242.5K

$22.78 TZS 58.8K

312.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.97 TZS 12.8K

$7.51 TZS 19.4K

-33.82%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 TZS 12.5K

$3.94 TZS 10.2K

23.10%

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

$256 TZS 659.3K

$325 TZS 837.4K

-21.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K TZS 49.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 TZS 66.4K

$15.55 TZS 40.1K

65.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.84 TZS 107.9K

$20.90 TZS 53.9K

100.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.69 TZS 117.8K

$17.12 TZS 44.2K

166.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 TZS 216.1K

$15.59 TZS 40.2K

437.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 TZS 1.5M

$118 TZS 304.5K

386.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 TZS 677.7K

$38.33 TZS 98.9K

585.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 TZS 3.4M

$190 TZS 489.1K

594.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$114 TZS 294.7K

470.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 TZS 2.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 TZS 732.2K

$262 TZS 676.0K

8.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

63.92%

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

Last update for Dar es Salaam: June 1, 2026

Last update for Njombe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Dar es Salaam versus $118 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 150%, 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 $1,276 per month in Dar es Salaam and $511 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 16% less in Njombe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $341, than in Dar es Salaam at $851. 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.