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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $581 per month in Zanzibar vs $429 in Dodoma, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Zanzibar vs $616 in Dodoma, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,163 per month in Zanzibar vs $803 in Dodoma, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 35% more than Dodoma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Zanzibar and Dodoma are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 58% lower, Dodoma 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

$2.63 TZS 6,915

78.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

$18.62 TZS 48.9K

16.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

$7.54 TZS 19.8K

-27.06%

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

$1.94 TZS 5,108

9.79%

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

$0.31 TZS 810

103.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

$0.86 TZS 2,253

-63.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,067

$0.80 TZS 2,104

141.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

$3.24 TZS 8,523

-20.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TZS 5,438

$0.90 TZS 2,378

130.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,978

$0.85 TZS 2,226

-11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,251

$1.02 TZS 2,671

-15.69%

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,052

$2.24 TZS 5,894

19.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

$5.56 TZS 14.6K

37.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

$6.79 TZS 17.8K

-66.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

$3.69 TZS 9,704

64.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

$2.39 TZS 6,280

22.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

$0.93 TZS 2,454

19.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$0.75 TZS 1,969

-1.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

$1.52 TZS 4,000

-61.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,565

$1.06 TZS 2,796

-7.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 TZS 4,079

$1.69 TZS 4,433

-8.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$0.49 TZS 1,282

51.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 TZS 1,269

$0.40 TZS 1,041

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

$1.54 TZS 4,060

40.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

$3.85 TZS 10.1K

149.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

$0.81 TZS 2,140

91.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

$1.26 TZS 3,301

7.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,039

$1.37 TZS 3,600

-15.33%

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

$18.62 TZS 49.0K

-38.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

$18.57 TZS 48.8K

162.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

$55.8 TZS 146.6K

-46.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 TZS 19.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$3.70 TZS 9,718

161.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$7.69 TZS 20.2K

70.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

$94.1 TZS 247.4K

6.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 TZS 820.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dodoma: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $19.00 in Dodoma. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $148 – making Dodoma the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Zanzibar costs about 35% more than Dodoma, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $871 per month in Zanzibar and $644 in Dodoma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $581 in Zanzibar and $429 in Dodoma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Zanzibar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $581 in Zanzibar and $429 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.