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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $448 per month in Dodoma vs $200 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $642 per month in Dodoma vs $357 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $835 per month in Dodoma vs $514 in Arusha, rent included.

Dodoma costs about 124% more than Arusha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dodoma and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Dodoma 66% lower, Arusha 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.69 TZS 9,670

$3.38 TZS 8,877

9.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.42 TZS 51.0K

$28.02 TZS 73.5K

-30.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 TZS 24.7K

$9.16 TZS 24.0K

2.62%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,116

$1.74 TZS 4,574

12.07%

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

$0.37 TZS 978

$0.43 TZS 1,127

-13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 TZS 470

$0.33 TZS 878

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 TZS 2,160

$1.08 TZS 2,832

-24.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 TZS 8,773

$2.83 TZS 7,424

18.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 TZS 2,201

$0.64 TZS 1,691

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,121

$0.57 TZS 1,492

42.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,707

$0.89 TZS 2,325

15.73%

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,187

$1.72 TZS 4,500

15.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 TZS 18.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.95 TZS 10.4K

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 TZS 6,504

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,367

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,958

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 TZS 4,001

$0.75 TZS 1,967

102.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,728

$0.41 TZS 1,066

153.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 TZS 4,480

$0.98 TZS 2,572

74.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 TZS 1,294

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 TZS 993

$0.46 TZS 1,217

-17.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.51 TZS 3,960

Wine (Bottle)

$3.76 TZS 9,875

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 TZS 2,248

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 TZS 3,390

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 506

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 TZS 5,061

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 TZS 20.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TZS 2,923

$1.19 TZS 3,125

-6.72%

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

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

$9.46 TZS 24.8K

105.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.14 TZS 50.2K

$50.7 TZS 133.1K

-62.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 TZS 149.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 TZS 19.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.82 TZS 10.0K

$3.76 TZS 9,879

1.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K TZS 26.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.0 TZS 257.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 TZS 757.2K

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

Last update for Dodoma: July 11, 2026

Last update for Arusha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dodoma versus $28.00 in Arusha. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Dodoma vs $35.00 in Arusha – 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

Dodoma vs Arusha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $448 in Dodoma, $200 in Arusha – roughly 124% apart. Dodoma costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $673 per month in Dodoma and $300 in Arusha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dodoma and $28.00 in Arusha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $448 in Dodoma and $200 in Arusha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $448 in Dodoma and $200 in Arusha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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