Cost of Living Comparison Between Dodoma and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Dodoma and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $448 per month in Dodoma vs $439 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $642 per month in Dodoma vs $701 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $835 per month in Dodoma vs $962 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Dodoma costs about 2% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Dodoma and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Dodoma 66% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.69 TZS 9,670

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

-22.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.42 TZS 51.0K

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

-12.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 TZS 24.7K

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

60.96%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,116

$2.27 TZS 5,963

-14.10%

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

$0.37 TZS 978

$0.60 TZS 1,587

-38.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 TZS 470

$0.34 TZS 880

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 TZS 2,160

$1.90 TZS 4,978

-56.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 TZS 8,773

$2.69 TZS 7,051

24.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 TZS 2,201

$1.70 TZS 4,452

-50.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,121

$0.73 TZS 1,921

10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,707

$0.87 TZS 2,292

18.39%

Eggs

$1.98 TZS 5,187

$2.87 TZS 7,534

-31.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 TZS 18.5K

$2.36 TZS 6,194

198.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.95 TZS 10.4K

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

-17.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 TZS 6,504

$2.94 TZS 7,715

-15.65%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,367

$1.19 TZS 3,116

-24.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,958

$0.80 TZS 2,101

-6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 TZS 4,001

$0.56 TZS 1,471

171.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,728

$0.94 TZS 2,475

10.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 TZS 4,480

$1.50 TZS 3,946

14.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 TZS 1,294

$0.79 TZS 2,068

-37.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 TZS 993

$0.50 TZS 1,311

-24.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.51 TZS 3,960

$2.02 TZS 5,289

-25.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.76 TZS 9,875

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

-61.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 TZS 2,248

$1.79 TZS 4,690

-51.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 TZS 3,390

$1.31 TZS 3,438

-1.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TZS 2,923

$1.16 TZS 3,036

-4.31%

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

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

87.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.14 TZS 50.2K

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

-16.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 TZS 149.7K

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

171.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 TZS 19.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.82 TZS 10.0K

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

-60.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.0 TZS 257.2K

$101 TZS 266.1K

-3.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$316 TZS 829.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Dodoma: July 11, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dodoma versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Dodoma vs $139 in Zanzibar – so Zanzibar 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 Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dodoma costs about 2% more than Zanzibar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $673 per month in Dodoma and $659 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $448 in Dodoma and $439 in Zanzibar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Dodoma, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $448 in Dodoma and $439 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – 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 Zanzibar. 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.