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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $449 per month in Dodoma vs $201 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $644 per month in Dodoma vs $358 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $839 per month in Dodoma vs $514 in Arusha, rent included.

Dodoma costs about 123% 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

$3.75 TZS 9,677

$3.40 TZS 8,767

10.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.12 TZS 49.3K

$27.94 TZS 72.1K

-31.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 TZS 24.2K

$9.09 TZS 23.4K

3.41%

Cappuccino

$1.91 TZS 4,914

$1.70 TZS 4,382

12.35%

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

$0.41 TZS 1,054

$0.43 TZS 1,113

-4.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 560

$0.31 TZS 799

-29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 TZS 2,223

$1.08 TZS 2,790

-20.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 TZS 8,644

$2.98 TZS 7,677

12.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 TZS 2,349

$0.63 TZS 1,634

44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 TZS 1,948

$0.60 TZS 1,554

26.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,670

$0.91 TZS 2,336

14.29%

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,073

$1.70 TZS 4,384

15.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.68 TZS 14.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 TZS 17.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.80 TZS 9,801

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 TZS 6,308

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,486

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,054

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 TZS 4,092

$0.79 TZS 2,027

101.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 TZS 2,797

$0.41 TZS 1,048

163.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 TZS 4,537

$1.00 TZS 2,571

76.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 TZS 1,287

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 TZS 975

$0.47 TZS 1,212

-19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.58 TZS 4,071

Wine (Bottle)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 TZS 2,170

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 TZS 3,168

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 497

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 TZS 4,992

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 TZS 19.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 TZS 2,967

$1.23 TZS 3,184

-6.50%

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

$19.67 TZS 50.7K

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

108.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.27 TZS 49.7K

$50.3 TZS 129.7K

-61.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.0 TZS 152.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 TZS 19.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.78 TZS 9,743

$3.97 TZS 10.2K

-4.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K TZS 26.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.8 TZS 244.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 TZS 759.3K

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

Last update for Dodoma: May 30, 2026

Last update for Arusha: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dodoma versus $28.00 in Arusha. Groceries tell a different story – $148 in Dodoma vs $36.00 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: $449 in Dodoma, $201 in Arusha – roughly 123% apart. Dodoma costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $674 per month in Dodoma and $302 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 $449 in Dodoma and $201 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 $449 in Dodoma and $201 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.