Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Dar es Salaam Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Dar es Salaam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $966 per month in Johor Bahru vs $871 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,378 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,393 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,791 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,914 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Johor Bahru costs about 11% more than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Johor Bahru and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Johor Bahru 28% lower, Dar es Salaam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 13.93

$2.79 TZS 7,210

26.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.69 MYR 73.8

$19.41 TZS 50.2K

-3.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.82

$7.93 TZS 20.5K

-39.97%

Cappuccino

$3.01 MYR 11.90

$1.95 TZS 5,053

54.36%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.35

$0.39 TZS 1,003

117.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.22 TZS 568

122.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 13.85

$1.07 TZS 2,778

228.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 MYR 26.71

$1.95 TZS 5,038

246.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.11

$1.08 TZS 2,790

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MYR 3.89

$0.81 TZS 2,108

20.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.89

$1.12 TZS 2,911

10.71%

Eggs

$1.84 MYR 7.26

$1.97 TZS 5,112

-6.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 MYR 42.16

$9.46 TZS 24.5K

12.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 MYR 14.01

$5.83 TZS 15.1K

-39.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.25 MYR 32.60

$4.37 TZS 11.3K

88.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.51

$2.61 TZS 6,764

1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.76

$1.05 TZS 2,724

39.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.16

$1.05 TZS 2,729

144.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.93

$1.04 TZS 2,702

20.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.51

$0.94 TZS 2,441

21.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.30

$1.53 TZS 3,968

-12.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.71

$0.91 TZS 2,350

3.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.04

$0.44 TZS 1,138

18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.47

$2.04 TZS 5,289

104.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 MYR 57.3

$6.44 TZS 16.7K

125.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MYR 10.59

$0.97 TZS 2,502

176.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MYR 11.53

$1.62 TZS 4,205

80.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$0.26 TZS 673

176.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.81 MYR 46.65

$17.10 TZS 44.3K

-30.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.84

$1.49 TZS 3,852

-34.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$1.51 TZS 3,897

-32.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.09 MYR 35.92

$13.43 TZS 34.8K

-32.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$1.25 TZS 3,244

-62.40%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.8K MYR 137.4K

$16.8K TZS 43.5M

107.19%

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

$28.1K MYR 111.0K

$17.2K TZS 44.6M

63.37%

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

$40.87 MYR 161

$98.3 TZS 254.5K

-58.43%

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

$9.23 MYR 36.44

$10.90 TZS 28.2K

-15.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 MYR 121

$31.96 TZS 82.7K

-4.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.09 MYR 139

$95.7 TZS 247.7K

-63.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 22.99

$4.79 TZS 12.4K

21.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 MYR 19.35

$4.75 TZS 12.3K

3.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$191 MYR 755

$253 TZS 655.0K

-24.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,900 MYR 27.3K

$19.3K TZS 49.9M

-64.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.07 MYR 194

$25.75 TZS 66.7K

90.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.14 MYR 75.6

$41.74 TZS 108.1K

-54.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.2 MYR 214

$46.25 TZS 119.7K

17.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.65 MYR 157

$85.7 TZS 221.8K

-53.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,848

$592 TZS 1.5M

-20.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 MYR 1,565

$256 TZS 663.1K

54.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 MYR 3,331

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

-35.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,366

$646 TZS 1.7M

-7.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MYR 8,254

$1,522 TZS 3.9M

37.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,190 MYR 4,700

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

7.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,155 MYR 4,562

$263 TZS 681.9K

338.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

19.67

-79.31%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: April 25, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $468 in Johor Bahru versus $592 in Dar es Salaam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 338% higher in Johor Bahru, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Johor Bahru versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Groceries tell a different story – $218 in Johor Bahru vs $167 in Dar es Salaam – so Dar es Salaam 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

Johor Bahru vs Dar es Salaam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Johor Bahru is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,449 per month in Johor Bahru and $1,307 in Dar es Salaam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dar es Salaam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $191 per month in Johor Bahru and $253 in Dar es Salaam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Johor Bahru, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $871, than in Johor Bahru at $966. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johor Bahru it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dar es Salaam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dar es Salaam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johor Bahru makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.