🙂A single person spends $341 per month in Njombe vs $851 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $510 per month in Njombe vs $1,361 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $680 per month in Njombe vs $1,871 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.
🙂Njombe is about 60% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Njombe and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Njombe75% lower, Dar es Salaam37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.74TZS 7,055
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$19.65TZS 50.7K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.84TZS 20.2K
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.03TZS 5,235
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.35TZS 907
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.22TZS 565
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.04TZS 2,679
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.96TZS 5,066
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01TZS 2,604
$1.06TZS 2,745
-4.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60TZS 1,557
$0.77TZS 1,991
-22.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93TZS 2,406
$1.10TZS 2,834
-15.45%
Eggs
$1.37TZS 3,535
$1.99TZS 5,123
-31.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$9.28TZS 23.9K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.85TZS 9,924
$5.94TZS 15.3K
-35.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.05TZS 7,878
$4.23TZS 10.9K
-27.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59TZS 4,106
$2.57TZS 6,641
-38.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73TZS 4,459
$1.03TZS 2,647
67.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81TZS 4,669
$1.06TZS 2,727
70.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97TZS 2,511
$1.05TZS 2,698
-7.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37TZS 3,540
$0.95TZS 2,444
44.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.48TZS 6,403
$1.57TZS 4,038
57.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37TZS 961
$0.85TZS 2,183
-56.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38TZS 974
$0.40TZS 1,040
-5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.77TZS 4,557
$2.01TZS 5,176
-11.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$1.88TZS 4,846
$6.93TZS 17.9K
-72.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37TZS 3,542
$0.95TZS 2,463
44.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07TZS 5,334
$1.62TZS 4,190
27.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26TZS 667
$0.24TZS 613
8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.36TZS 52.5K
$17.54TZS 45.2K
16.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.58TZS 4,071
$1.46TZS 3,778
8.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12TZS 2,882
$1.57TZS 4,039
-28.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.68TZS 14.7K
$13.67TZS 35.2K
-58.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27TZS 3,263
$1.24TZS 3,205
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6KTZS 48.0M
$17.4KTZS 44.8M
7.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.8KTZS 30.5M
$17.4KTZS 44.8M
-32.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.57TZS 55.6K
$97.8TZS 252.1K
-77.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.20TZS 39.2K
$10.72TZS 27.6K
41.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9TZS 149.3K
$31.50TZS 81.3K
83.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.78TZS 58.8K
$94.0TZS 242.5K
-75.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.51TZS 19.4K
$4.97TZS 12.8K
51.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.94TZS 10.2K
$4.85TZS 12.5K
-18.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325TZS 837.4K
$256TZS 659.3K
27.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$19.2KTZS 49.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.55TZS 40.1K
$25.76TZS 66.4K
-39.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.90TZS 53.9K
$41.84TZS 107.9K
-50.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$17.12TZS 44.2K
$45.69TZS 117.8K
-62.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.59TZS 40.2K
$83.8TZS 216.1K
-81.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118TZS 304.5K
$575TZS 1.5M
-79.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$38.33TZS 98.9K
$263TZS 677.7K
-85.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$190TZS 489.1K
$1,316TZS 3.4M
-85.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114TZS 294.7K
$652TZS 1.7M
-82.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,526TZS 3.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,066TZS 2.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$262TZS 676.0K
$284TZS 732.2K
-7.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
19.67
-38.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Njombe: June 1, 2026
Last update for Dar es Salaam: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Njombe versus $575 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 8% 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
Is Dar es Salaam cheaper than Njombe?
Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 150%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $511 per month in Njombe and $1,276 in Dar es Salaam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 16% less in Njombe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Njombe and Dar es Salaam?
Groceries cost about 45% 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.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Njombe or Dar es Salaam?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Njombe, where all-in costs run around $341, than in Dar es Salaam at $851. In Njombe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Njombe or Dar es Salaam more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Njombe or Dar es Salaam?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.