Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dodoma and Mwanza

For one person, living is cheaper in Mwanza: $185 a month against $429 in Dodoma, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Dodoma

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$429

/mo nomad

Mwanza

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dodoma and in Mwanza

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dodoma and in Mwanza actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $429 per month in Dodoma vs $185 in Mwanza, rent included.

Dodoma $429
Mwanza $185

A couple spends around $614 per month in Dodoma vs $291 in Mwanza, rent included.

Dodoma $614
Mwanza $291

A family of three spends $799 per month in Dodoma vs $396 in Mwanza, rent included.

Dodoma $799
Mwanza $396

Dodoma costs about 132% more than Mwanza, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Dodoma and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Dodoma 69% lower, Mwanza 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.62 TZS 6,829

$2.41 TZS 6,302

8.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.72 TZS 48.9K

$15.09 TZS 39.4K

24.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 TZS 20.3K

$4.45 TZS 11.6K

74.61%

Cappuccino

$1.93 TZS 5,044

$2.57 TZS 6,712

-24.90%

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

$0.33 TZS 868

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,331

$0.27 TZS 695

229.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 TZS 2,127

$0.96 TZS 2,517

-15.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 TZS 8,164

$1.28 TZS 3,346

144.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 TZS 2,409

$0.91 TZS 2,375

1.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,169

$1.55 TZS 4,059

-46.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,652

$0.98 TZS 2,566

4.08%

Eggs

$2.24 TZS 5,853

$2.05 TZS 5,354

9.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.51 TZS 14.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 TZS 17.8K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.67 TZS 9,580

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 TZS 6,274

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,419

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 TZS 2,011

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 TZS 3,896

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,666

$0.96 TZS 2,518

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 TZS 4,533

$1.33 TZS 3,477

30.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 TZS 1,189

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 TZS 1,022

$0.40 TZS 1,034

-2.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.53 TZS 4,006

Wine (Bottle)

$3.82 TZS 9,967

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,324

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 TZS 3,134

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 TZS 3,616

$1.53 TZS 3,992

-9.15%

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

$65.9 TZS 172.0K

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

$18.60 TZS 48.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.75 TZS 49.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 TZS 145.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.53 TZS 19.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.71 TZS 9,697

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.39 TZS 19.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.3 TZS 246.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 TZS 495.4K

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

Last update for Dodoma: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: October 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Dodoma versus $15 in Mwanza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $47 – making Mwanza the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇿 Dodoma

🇹🇿 Mwanza

🕒 Local time

02:46 2:46 AM

Same time as Dodoma

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

765,179 Capital

1,104,521

💱 Currency

Tanzanian Shilling TZS Sh

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 TZS = 3.83 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.44 EUR

10,000 TZS = 3.83 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.44 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Dodoma Mwanza 510 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

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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 Mwanza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dodoma costs about 132% more than Mwanza, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $643 per month in Dodoma and $277 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $429 in Dodoma and $185 in Mwanza. That makes Mwanza about 57% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 214% more in Dodoma, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Dodoma and $185 in Mwanza, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Mwanza has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $185 in Mwanza to $429 in Dodoma. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.