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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $449 per month in Dodoma vs $451 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $644 per month in Dodoma vs $702 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $839 per month in Dodoma vs $954 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Dodoma and Zanzibar have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.75 TZS 9,677

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

-23.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.12 TZS 49.3K

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

-14.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 TZS 24.2K

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

61.23%

Cappuccino

$1.91 TZS 4,914

$2.18 TZS 5,635

-12.39%

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

$0.41 TZS 1,054

$0.60 TZS 1,539

-31.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 560

$0.31 TZS 792

-29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 TZS 2,223

$1.94 TZS 5,011

-55.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 TZS 8,644

$2.77 TZS 7,141

20.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 TZS 2,349

$1.77 TZS 4,574

-48.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 TZS 1,948

$0.74 TZS 1,897

2.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,670

$0.87 TZS 2,236

19.54%

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,073

$2.87 TZS 7,396

-31.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.68 TZS 14.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 TZS 17.6K

$2.28 TZS 5,872

199.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.80 TZS 9,801

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

-20.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 TZS 6,308

$2.92 TZS 7,541

-16.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,486

$1.13 TZS 2,908

-15.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,054

$0.75 TZS 1,943

6.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 TZS 4,092

$0.59 TZS 1,530

169.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 TZS 2,797

$0.93 TZS 2,386

16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 TZS 4,537

$1.58 TZS 4,062

11.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 TZS 1,287

$0.74 TZS 1,916

-32.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 TZS 975

$0.46 TZS 1,184

-17.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.58 TZS 4,071

$2.11 TZS 5,442

-25.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

-58.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 TZS 2,170

$1.75 TZS 4,520

-52.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 TZS 3,168

$1.31 TZS 3,387

-6.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 TZS 2,967

$1.20 TZS 3,101

-4.17%

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

$19.67 TZS 50.7K

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

88.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.27 TZS 49.7K

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

-15.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.0 TZS 152.2K

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

177.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 TZS 19.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.78 TZS 9,743

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

-59.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.8 TZS 244.6K

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

-4.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Dodoma: May 30, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dodoma versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $148 in Dodoma vs $138 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $674 per month in Dodoma and $676 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Zanzibar – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dodoma and $22.00 in Zanzibar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $449 in Dodoma and $451 in Zanzibar, 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, Zanzibar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.