Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Dodoma Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Dodoma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $449 in Dodoma, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $644 in Dodoma, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $839 in Dodoma, rent included.

Zanzibar and Dodoma have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Zanzibar and Dodoma are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Dodoma 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$3.75 TZS 9,677

29.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$19.12 TZS 49.3K

17.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$9.40 TZS 24.2K

-37.98%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$1.91 TZS 4,914

14.14%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.41 TZS 1,054

46.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.22 TZS 560

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$0.86 TZS 2,223

125.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$3.35 TZS 8,644

-17.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$0.91 TZS 2,349

94.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.76 TZS 1,948

-2.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$1.04 TZS 2,670

-16.35%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$1.97 TZS 5,073

45.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.68 TZS 14.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$6.83 TZS 17.6K

-66.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$3.80 TZS 9,801

25.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$2.45 TZS 6,308

19.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$0.96 TZS 2,486

17.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$0.80 TZS 2,054

-6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$1.59 TZS 4,092

-62.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$1.08 TZS 2,797

-13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$1.76 TZS 4,537

-10.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.50 TZS 1,287

48.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.38 TZS 975

21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$1.58 TZS 4,071

33.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

143.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$0.84 TZS 2,170

108.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$1.23 TZS 3,168

6.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.15 TZS 2,967

4.35%

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$19.67 TZS 50.7K

-46.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$19.27 TZS 49.7K

18.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$59.0 TZS 152.2K

-64.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 TZS 19.7K

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$3.78 TZS 9,743

149.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$94.8 TZS 244.6K

4.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dodoma: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $19.00 in Dodoma. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Zanzibar vs $148 in Dodoma – so Zanzibar wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Zanzibar vs Dodoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Zanzibar and $674 in Dodoma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Zanzibar – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar and $19.00 in Dodoma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $451 in Zanzibar and $449 in Dodoma, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Dodoma – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Dodoma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zanzibar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.