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 $955 per month in Johor Bahru vs $858 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,399 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,776 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,940 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 MYR 14.34

$2.75 TZS 7,158

27.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.98 MYR 77.6

$19.48 TZS 50.6K

-2.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.69

$7.59 TZS 19.7K

-36.50%

Cappuccino

$2.92 MYR 11.94

$2.01 TZS 5,234

45.27%

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

$0.83 MYR 3.40

$0.36 TZS 927

130.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$0.24 TZS 624

104.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 MYR 14.38

$1.07 TZS 2,791

228.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 MYR 26.46

$1.95 TZS 5,056

231.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.46

$1.06 TZS 2,759

71.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.80

$0.79 TZS 2,046

17.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.15

$1.09 TZS 2,844

15.60%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.67

$1.98 TZS 5,145

-5.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 MYR 43.99

$9.35 TZS 24.3K

15.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 MYR 13.90

$5.93 TZS 15.4K

-42.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.14 MYR 33.27

$4.27 TZS 11.1K

90.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MYR 11.26

$2.59 TZS 6,719

6.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.14

$1.01 TZS 2,637

48.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.52

$1.02 TZS 2,663

151.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.98

$1.05 TZS 2,720

16.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$0.96 TZS 2,499

18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.71

$1.58 TZS 4,109

-11.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.93

$0.83 TZS 2,158

15.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.32

$0.40 TZS 1,050

42.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 17.01

$2.01 TZS 5,226

106.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 MYR 58.6

$6.81 TZS 17.7K

110.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 MYR 11.43

$0.96 TZS 2,500

191.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.78

$1.62 TZS 4,203

77.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.24 TZS 622

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.71

$17.21 TZS 44.7K

-30.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 MYR 4.19

$1.44 TZS 3,736

-28.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.18

$1.55 TZS 4,029

-34.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.48 MYR 38.75

$13.31 TZS 34.6K

-28.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$1.24 TZS 3,233

-59.68%

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

$34.8K MYR 142.2K

$16.8K TZS 43.7M

106.99%

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

$27.4K MYR 112.0K

$17.2K TZS 44.7M

59.20%

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

$40.42 MYR 165

$96.3 TZS 250.4K

-58.04%

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

$8.82 MYR 36.04

$10.72 TZS 27.9K

-17.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 MYR 125

$32.60 TZS 84.7K

-6.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.12 MYR 144

$95.7 TZS 248.7K

-63.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.78 MYR 23.62

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

23.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 19.98

$4.69 TZS 12.2K

4.26%

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

$184 MYR 753

$256 TZS 664.4K

-27.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,005 MYR 28.6K

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

-63.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.22 MYR 201

$25.75 TZS 66.9K

91.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.59 MYR 76.0

$43.11 TZS 112.0K

-56.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.9 MYR 225

$45.89 TZS 119.3K

19.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.53 MYR 162

$84.4 TZS 219.5K

-53.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,912

$581 TZS 1.5M

-19.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 MYR 1,635

$258 TZS 671.1K

54.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 MYR 3,328

$1,338 TZS 3.5M

-39.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 MYR 2,491

$661 TZS 1.7M

-7.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,036 MYR 8,322

$1,514 TZS 3.9M

34.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,158 MYR 4,732

$1,096 TZS 2.8M

5.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 MYR 4,346

$278 TZS 722.6K

282.45%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $468 in Johor Bahru versus $581 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 282% 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 $166 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 $1,432 per month in Johor Bahru and $1,287 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 $184 per month in Johor Bahru and $256 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 32% 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 $858, than in Johor Bahru at $955. 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.