Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Njombe and Dar es Salaam

For one person, living is cheaper in Njombe: $334 a month against $707 in Dar es Salaam, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Njombe
🇹🇿 Tanzania
$334
/mo nomad
Dar es Salaam
🇹🇿 Tanzania
$707
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Njombe and in Dar es Salaam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Njombe and in Dar es Salaam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $334 per month in Njombe vs $707 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

  • Njombe $334
  • Dar es Salaam $707

A couple spends around $512 per month in Njombe vs $1,121 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

  • Njombe $512
  • Dar es Salaam $1,121

A family of three spends $690 per month in Njombe vs $1,535 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

  • Njombe $690
  • Dar es Salaam $1,535

Njombe is about 53% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Njombe and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Njombe 75% lower, Dar es Salaam 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.93 TZS 5,066
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$19.16 TZS 50.2K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.60 TZS 19.9K
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.02 TZS 5,285
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.37 TZS 975
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.22 TZS 577
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.94 TZS 2,452
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.94 TZS 5,091
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 TZS 2,570
$0.81 TZS 2,121
20.99%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 TZS 1,449
$0.62 TZS 1,616
-11.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 TZS 2,578
$1.09 TZS 2,861
-10.09%
Eggs
$1.32 TZS 3,463
$2.04 TZS 5,343
-35.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$9.31 TZS 24.4K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 TZS 9,790
$4.77 TZS 12.5K
-21.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.95 TZS 7,730
$3.98 TZS 10.4K
-25.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 TZS 3,925
$2.50 TZS 6,544
-40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 TZS 4,558
$1.07 TZS 2,801
62.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 TZS 4,809
$1.04 TZS 2,724
76.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.04 TZS 5,339
$0.92 TZS 2,418
121.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 TZS 3,548
$0.95 TZS 2,491
42.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 TZS 6,370
$1.03 TZS 2,702
135.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 TZS 1,038
$0.81 TZS 2,114
-50.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 TZS 952
$0.38 TZS 1,002
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 TZS 4,332
$2.09 TZS 5,477
-21.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$1.87 TZS 4,897
$7.04 TZS 18.4K
-73.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 TZS 3,404
$0.87 TZS 2,272
49.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 TZS 5,593
$1.58 TZS 4,138
35.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 TZS 736
$0.26 TZS 681
7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.31 TZS 50.6K
$14.62 TZS 38.3K
32.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 TZS 4,039
$1.61 TZS 4,227
-4.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 TZS 3,059
$1.49 TZS 3,907
-21.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.51 TZS 14.4K
$13.34 TZS 34.9K
-58.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 TZS 3,183
$1.42 TZS 3,727
-14.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K TZS 47.4M
$17.1K TZS 44.8M
5.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.2K TZS 29.4M
$26.4K TZS 69.2M
-57.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$20.74 TZS 54.3K
$56.9 TZS 149.1K
-63.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.89 TZS 39.0K
$9.17 TZS 24.0K
62.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8 TZS 146.2K
$33.48 TZS 87.7K
66.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.47 TZS 58.8K
$85.9 TZS 224.9K
-73.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.47 TZS 19.6K
$10.07 TZS 26.4K
-25.82%
Cinema Ticket
$3.82 TZS 9,995
$5.05 TZS 13.2K
-24.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$321 TZS 841.3K
$565 TZS 1.5M
-43.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$13.1K TZS 34.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.98 TZS 39.2K
$15.27 TZS 40.0K
-1.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.71 TZS 54.2K
$25.42 TZS 66.6K
-18.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$16.90 TZS 44.2K
$44.19 TZS 115.7K
-61.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$14.90 TZS 39.0K
$59.5 TZS 155.7K
-74.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$113 TZS 294.9K
$572 TZS 1.5M
-80.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$37.69 TZS 98.7K
$196 TZS 513.6K
-80.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$188 TZS 492.5K
$1,312 TZS 3.4M
-85.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 TZS 301.3K
$442 TZS 1.2M
-73.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,556 TZS 4.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,069 TZS 2.8M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Njombe
Dar es Salaam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$256 TZS 671.7K
$276 TZS 722.7K
-7.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
18.25
-34.25%

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

Last update for Njombe: October 10, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Njombe
–
Dar es Salaam
$196
Groceries & Markets
Njombe
–
Dar es Salaam
$153
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Njombe
–
Dar es Salaam
$100
Sport & Entertainment
Njombe
–
Dar es Salaam
$96
Eating Out
Njombe
–
Dar es Salaam
$73
Clothing & Footwear
Njombe
–
Dar es Salaam
$65
Getting Around
Njombe
–
Dar es Salaam
$25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $113 in Njombe versus $572 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.

Good to know
🇹🇿 Njombe
🇹🇿 Dar es Salaam
🕒 Local time
10:16 10:16 AM
10:16 10:16 AM
Same time as Njombe
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
92,537
5,383,728
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to TZS – Tanzanian Shilling Converter

Tanzanian Shilling exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2,619 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.82 USD). 1 EUR = 2,944 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Njombe Dar es Salaam 570 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Njombe
  • Dar es Salaam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 112%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $502 per month in Njombe and $1,061 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 32% less in Njombe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Njombe and in Dar es Salaam?
Groceries cost about 30% 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 living in Njombe or in Dar es Salaam?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Njombe, where all-in costs run around $334, than in Dar es Salaam at $707. 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.

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