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 $1,061 per month in Johor Bahru vs $703 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,551 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,102 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,042 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,501 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Johor Bahru costs about 51% more than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Johor Bahru and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Johor Bahru 23% lower, Dar es Salaam 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.81

$1.85 TZS 4,870

96.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.40 MYR 87.1

$18.78 TZS 49.4K

13.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.14

$8.46 TZS 22.2K

-41.49%

Cappuccino

$3.03 MYR 12.31

$1.89 TZS 4,957

60.32%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.43

$0.35 TZS 915

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$0.22 TZS 579

136.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.91

$0.93 TZS 2,456

373.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 MYR 24.95

$1.84 TZS 4,837

233.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 7.13

$0.79 TZS 2,077

121.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$0.61 TZS 1,605

81.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.95

$1.09 TZS 2,860

33.94%

Eggs

$1.76 MYR 7.16

$1.92 TZS 5,042

-8.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.53 MYR 75.4

$9.35 TZS 24.6K

98.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 MYR 18.86

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

-0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 MYR 44.12

$4.02 TZS 10.6K

169.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 MYR 14.11

$2.52 TZS 6,621

37.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.86

$1.01 TZS 2,660

67.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.96 MYR 16.09

$0.99 TZS 2,614

300.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.64

$1.05 TZS 2,758

55.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.98

$0.93 TZS 2,434

58.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.08

$1.01 TZS 2,663

72.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$0.81 TZS 2,139

64.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.35 TZS 933

57.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MYR 17.41

$2.30 TZS 6,044

86.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.41 MYR 58.6

$6.94 TZS 18.2K

107.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$0.84 TZS 2,215

241.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.35

$1.57 TZS 4,121

93.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$0.24 TZS 626

220.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.45 MYR 50.6

$14.67 TZS 38.6K

-15.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$1.66 TZS 4,366

-13.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 MYR 2.89

$1.53 TZS 4,017

-53.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.69 MYR 39.44

$13.46 TZS 35.4K

-28.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.19

$1.33 TZS 3,494

-41.35%

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

$42.9K MYR 174.6K

$16.7K TZS 43.8M

157.45%

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

$36.1K MYR 146.9K

$26.5K TZS 69.6M

36.40%

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

$53.3 MYR 217

$56.2 TZS 147.7K

-5.13%

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

$11.37 MYR 46.27

$9.00 TZS 23.6K

26.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.26 MYR 119

$34.47 TZS 90.6K

-15.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.41 MYR 164

$83.5 TZS 219.5K

-51.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.62 MYR 22.86

$8.09 TZS 21.3K

-30.53%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MYR 19.75

$5.22 TZS 13.7K

-6.90%

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

$167 MYR 679

$577 TZS 1.5M

-71.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,463 MYR 18.2K

$13.2K TZS 34.6M

-66.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 MYR 271

$14.39 TZS 37.8K

362.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.90 MYR 68.8

$26.26 TZS 69.0K

-35.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 MYR 332

$44.87 TZS 118.0K

81.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.29 MYR 164

$65.7 TZS 172.7K

-38.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 MYR 2,108

$605 TZS 1.6M

-14.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 MYR 1,606

$198 TZS 519.3K

99.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$903 MYR 3,673

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

-34.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MYR 2,567

$444 TZS 1.2M

42.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,032 MYR 8,266

$1,540 TZS 4.0M

31.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,176 MYR 4,784

$1,076 TZS 2.8M

9.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,090 MYR 4,434

$283 TZS 743.9K

285.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

18.25

-77.75%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: September 6, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $518 in Johor Bahru versus $605 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 285% 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 $21.00 in Johor Bahru versus $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $151 – making Dar es Salaam 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

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

Yes – Johor Bahru is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,591 per month in Johor Bahru and $1,055 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 $167 per month in Johor Bahru and $577 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 81% 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 $703, than in Johor Bahru at $1,061. 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.