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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $424 per month in Dodoma vs $548 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $617 per month in Dodoma vs $883 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $809 per month in Dodoma vs $1,218 in Arusha, rent included.

Dodoma is about 23% cheaper than Arusha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dodoma and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Dodoma 69% lower, Arusha 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.70 TZS 7,078

$3.42 TZS 8,952

-21.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.61 TZS 48.7K

$27.47 TZS 71.9K

-32.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 TZS 20.3K

$9.44 TZS 24.7K

-17.69%

Cappuccino

$1.91 TZS 5,006

$1.77 TZS 4,624

7.91%

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

$0.31 TZS 809

$0.96 TZS 2,504

-67.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,333

$0.33 TZS 872

169.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 TZS 2,137

$1.03 TZS 2,690

-20.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 TZS 8,599

$2.86 TZS 7,481

14.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 TZS 2,247

$0.97 TZS 2,538

-11.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,182

$0.67 TZS 1,757

23.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,652

$1.70 TZS 4,441

-40.59%

Eggs

$2.15 TZS 5,625

$1.73 TZS 4,540

24.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.65 TZS 14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 TZS 17.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 TZS 6,471

$2.21 TZS 5,793

11.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 TZS 2,305

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 TZS 1,910

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 TZS 4,023

$0.77 TZS 2,018

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,696

$0.46 TZS 1,192

123.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 TZS 4,512

$1.07 TZS 2,801

60.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 TZS 1,192

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 TZS 962

$0.79 TZS 2,067

-53.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.53 TZS 4,017

$1.48 TZS 3,865

3.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.76 TZS 9,860

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,323

$0.91 TZS 2,374

-2.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 TZS 3,151

$0.98 TZS 2,562

22.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 TZS 566

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.44 TZS 19.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 TZS 3,445

$1.34 TZS 3,519

-1.49%

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

$27.99 TZS 73.3K

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

$19.19 TZS 50.2K

$8.27 TZS 21.7K

132.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.17 TZS 50.2K

$46.52 TZS 121.8K

-58.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 TZS 145.6K

$63.8 TZS 167.1K

-12.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.60 TZS 19.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.86 TZS 10.1K

$4.68 TZS 12.3K

-17.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,551 TZS 19.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.62 TZS 20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 TZS 743.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.3 TZS 246.9K

$234 TZS 613.4K

-59.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 TZS 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 TZS 1.4M

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

Last update for Dodoma: September 12, 2026

Last update for Arusha: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dodoma versus $27.00 in Arusha. Groceries tell a different story – $147 in Dodoma vs $64.0 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: $424 in Dodoma, $548 in Arusha – roughly 29% apart. Arusha costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $636 per month in Dodoma and $822 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 $27.00 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 $424 in Dodoma and $548 in Arusha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $424 in Dodoma and $548 in Arusha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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