Cost of Living Comparison Between Njombe and Dar es Salaam Cost of Living Comparison Between Njombe and Dar es Salaam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $343 per month in Njombe vs $874 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $524 per month in Njombe vs $1,402 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $705 per month in Njombe vs $1,930 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Njombe is about 61% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Njombe and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Njombe 74% lower, Dar es Salaam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,178

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.19 TZS 50.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 TZS 20.0K

Cappuccino

$1.94 TZS 5,101

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

$0.36 TZS 938

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 576

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,716

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 TZS 4,966

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 TZS 2,510

$1.07 TZS 2,819

-10.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 TZS 1,452

$0.83 TZS 2,178

-33.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,482

$1.09 TZS 2,855

-12.84%

Eggs

$1.38 TZS 3,614

$2.06 TZS 5,395

-33.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 TZS 25.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.3K

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

-31.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.01 TZS 7,897

$4.36 TZS 11.5K

-30.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 TZS 3,960

$2.56 TZS 6,728

-41.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 TZS 4,468

$1.02 TZS 2,667

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 TZS 4,983

$1.06 TZS 2,794

79.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,560

$1.09 TZS 2,858

-10.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 TZS 3,450

$0.89 TZS 2,323

47.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 TZS 6,631

$1.51 TZS 3,951

67.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 TZS 1,073

$0.91 TZS 2,387

-54.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 TZS 976

$0.40 TZS 1,057

-7.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.71 TZS 4,488

$1.98 TZS 5,190

-13.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$1.88 TZS 4,930

$6.98 TZS 18.3K

-73.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 TZS 3,466

$0.95 TZS 2,488

38.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 TZS 5,676

$1.62 TZS 4,243

33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 681

$0.26 TZS 683

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.36 TZS 53.4K

$17.62 TZS 46.2K

15.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 TZS 4,008

$1.42 TZS 3,719

7.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 TZS 3,077

$1.49 TZS 3,904

-21.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.88 TZS 15.4K

$13.51 TZS 35.5K

-56.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,284

$1.20 TZS 3,144

4.17%

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

$18.3K TZS 47.9M

$16.8K TZS 44.1M

8.67%

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

$11.4K TZS 30.0M

$17.3K TZS 45.3M

-33.81%

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

$20.93 TZS 54.9K

$97.0 TZS 254.6K

-78.43%

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

$15.20 TZS 39.9K

$10.92 TZS 28.7K

39.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 TZS 150.0K

$32.24 TZS 84.6K

77.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.08 TZS 60.6K

$95.1 TZS 249.5K

-75.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.58 TZS 19.9K

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

59.24%

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 TZS 10.2K

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

-16.49%

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

$333 TZS 873.7K

$258 TZS 676.9K

29.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K TZS 49.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.33 TZS 40.2K

$26.38 TZS 69.2K

-41.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.54 TZS 56.5K

$42.45 TZS 111.4K

-49.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$17.47 TZS 45.9K

$47.02 TZS 123.4K

-62.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.60 TZS 40.9K

$84.8 TZS 222.5K

-81.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 301.7K

$594 TZS 1.6M

-80.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$38.96 TZS 102.2K

$262 TZS 686.3K

-85.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 TZS 506.0K

$1,292 TZS 3.4M

-85.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 301.9K

$652 TZS 1.7M

-82.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,504 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 TZS 682.9K

$275 TZS 722.4K

-5.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

-38.99%

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

Last update for Njombe: July 14, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Njombe versus $594 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 6% higher in Dar es Salaam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

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

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 155%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $515 per month in Njombe and $1,311 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 Njombe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 16% less in Njombe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 48% more in Dar es Salaam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Njombe, where all-in costs run around $343, than in Dar es Salaam at $874. In Njombe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Njombe – 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 Njombe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dar es Salaam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.