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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $429 per month in Dodoma vs $581 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $616 per month in Dodoma vs $872 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $803 per month in Dodoma vs $1,163 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Dodoma is about 26% cheaper than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Dodoma and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Dodoma 69% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.63 TZS 6,915

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

-44.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 TZS 48.9K

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

-14.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 TZS 19.8K

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

37.09%

Cappuccino

$1.94 TZS 5,108

$2.13 TZS 5,598

-8.92%

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

$0.31 TZS 810

$0.63 TZS 1,649

-50.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 TZS 2,253

$0.31 TZS 805

177.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.80 TZS 2,104

$1.93 TZS 5,067

-58.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 TZS 8,523

$2.58 TZS 6,772

25.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 TZS 2,378

$2.07 TZS 5,438

-56.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 TZS 2,226

$0.75 TZS 1,978

13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,671

$0.86 TZS 2,251

18.60%

Eggs

$2.24 TZS 5,894

$2.68 TZS 7,052

-16.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.56 TZS 14.6K

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

-27.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 TZS 17.8K

$2.26 TZS 5,939

200.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.69 TZS 9,704

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

-39.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 TZS 6,280

$2.92 TZS 7,665

-18.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,454

$1.11 TZS 2,919

-16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,969

$0.74 TZS 1,951

1.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 TZS 4,000

$0.58 TZS 1,528

162.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,796

$0.98 TZS 2,565

8.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 TZS 4,433

$1.55 TZS 4,079

9.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 TZS 1,282

$0.74 TZS 1,946

-33.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,041

$0.48 TZS 1,269

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.54 TZS 4,060

$2.17 TZS 5,697

-29.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.85 TZS 10.1K

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

-59.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 TZS 2,140

$1.55 TZS 4,062

-47.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 TZS 3,301

$1.36 TZS 3,567

-7.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 TZS 3,600

$1.16 TZS 3,039

18.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

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

$18.62 TZS 49.0K

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

61.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.57 TZS 48.8K

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

-61.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 TZS 146.6K

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

87.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 TZS 19.5K

Cinema Ticket

$3.70 TZS 9,718

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

-61.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.69 TZS 20.2K

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

-41.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.1 TZS 247.4K

$101 TZS 264.6K

-6.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 TZS 820.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Dodoma: September 1, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dodoma versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $166 – making Dodoma the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Zanzibar costs about 35% more than Dodoma, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 per month in Dodoma and $871 in Zanzibar. 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 $581 in Zanzibar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Zanzibar, 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 $429 in Dodoma and $581 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.