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 $336 per month in Njombe vs $720 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $516 per month in Njombe vs $1,136 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $696 per month in Njombe vs $1,553 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Njombe is about 53% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Njombe and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Njombe 76% lower, Dar es Salaam 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 TZS 5,103

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.12 TZS 50.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.32 TZS 21.9K

Cappuccino

$1.90 TZS 4,985

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

$0.34 TZS 905

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 578

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 TZS 2,548

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 TZS 4,883

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 TZS 2,525

$0.81 TZS 2,122

18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 TZS 1,548

$0.57 TZS 1,492

3.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,578

$1.05 TZS 2,766

-6.67%

Eggs

$1.38 TZS 3,637

$1.93 TZS 5,063

-28.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.76 TZS 9,875

$4.61 TZS 12.1K

-18.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.05 TZS 8,009

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

-21.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 TZS 4,054

$2.49 TZS 6,537

-38.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 TZS 4,596

$1.05 TZS 2,763

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 TZS 4,670

$0.99 TZS 2,608

79.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 TZS 5,613

$1.03 TZS 2,718

107.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 TZS 3,574

$0.92 TZS 2,414

47.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 TZS 6,333

$1.07 TZS 2,800

125.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 TZS 1,047

$0.87 TZS 2,283

-54.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,046

$0.38 TZS 1,012

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 TZS 4,426

$2.30 TZS 6,057

-26.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$1.88 TZS 4,941

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

-72.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

$0.82 TZS 2,153

59.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 TZS 5,439

$1.52 TZS 4,003

36.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 TZS 715

$0.24 TZS 630

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.71 TZS 51.8K

$14.92 TZS 39.2K

32.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,864

$1.61 TZS 4,234

-8.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 TZS 2,894

$1.55 TZS 4,075

-29.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 TZS 14.7K

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

-57.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,228

$1.32 TZS 3,467

-6.82%

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

$17.8K TZS 46.8M

$17.0K TZS 44.8M

4.56%

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

$11.2K TZS 29.6M

$26.0K TZS 68.4M

-56.77%

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

$20.40 TZS 53.6K

$55.7 TZS 146.5K

-63.38%

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

$15.27 TZS 40.2K

$8.90 TZS 23.4K

71.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.6 TZS 148.9K

$34.85 TZS 91.6K

62.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.60 TZS 59.4K

$80.3 TZS 211.1K

-71.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 TZS 19.4K

$8.43 TZS 22.2K

-12.34%

Cinema Ticket

$3.70 TZS 9,738

$5.12 TZS 13.4K

-27.73%

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

$315 TZS 828.3K

$564 TZS 1.5M

-44.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K TZS 35.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.27 TZS 40.2K

$14.28 TZS 37.5K

6.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.84 TZS 54.8K

$25.97 TZS 68.3K

-19.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$16.93 TZS 44.5K

$43.83 TZS 115.2K

-61.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.97 TZS 39.4K

$66.1 TZS 173.8K

-77.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 300.0K

$585 TZS 1.5M

-80.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$37.47 TZS 98.5K

$201 TZS 529.7K

-81.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 TZS 504.1K

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

-86.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 293.7K

$430 TZS 1.1M

-74.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,059 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$256 TZS 672.3K

$277 TZS 727.3K

-7.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

-34.25%

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

Last update for Njombe: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $114 in Njombe versus $585 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

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 114%, 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 $504 per month in Njombe and $1,079 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 32% less in Njombe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $336, than in Dar es Salaam at $720. 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.