Dodoma: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Dodoma is the official capital of Tanzania in the centre of the country, about 450 km from the coast. The decision to move the capital here was taken in 1973, parliament has sat in the city since the 1990s, and the ministries moved in 2016-2019. The city has about 765,000 residents and is growing fast, with government districts, a university, housing and roads under construction. The country's business and port hub remains Dar es Salaam, along with most embassies and companies. People move to Dodoma to work with government bodies, on international projects, at the university or in construction.

Districts and housing

• The centre - markets, banks, hotels and older government buildings.
• Mtumba - the government city in the east, where the ministries moved; new residential areas are rising around it.
• The university area - the campus of one of East Africa's largest universities, with housing for staff and students.
• The outskirts - private houses with plots, cheaper but with water and power cuts.

Foreigners usually rent a house with security and a water tank. Housing is noticeably cheaper than in Dar es Salaam, but the choice of Western-standard flats is small.

Cost of living

• Currency - the Tanzanian shilling, about 2,630 shillings to the dollar in 2026.
• Groceries - local vegetables, fruit, meat and rice are cheap; imported goods cost more.
• Utilities - you need a water reserve and a generator or backup power.
• Transport - motorbike taxis and minibuses are cheap; a car is more convenient for a family.
• Schools and healthcare - the largest expenses for a foreign family.

Practicalities: climate, language, transport

• Climate. Semi-arid, at about 1,100 metres: the rainy season runs from December to April, and June to August is dry with cool nights.
• Language. Almost everyone in Dodoma speaks Swahili; English is the language of documents and some government bodies, so basic Swahili helps a lot.
• Train. The express electric train on the new railway takes under four hours from Dar es Salaam; by car the trip is 7-8 hours.
• Flights. The current airport handles domestic flights, and the new Msalato International Airport is due for completion in 2026.
• Health. Malaria is present, though the dry climate keeps the risk lower than on the coast.

Safety and the situation

Dodoma is considered a calm city with low street crime. After the presidential election in October 2025, protests with casualties took place in the country's major cities, with curfews and internet shutdowns. The situation is calmer now, but public gatherings and photographing government buildings remain under police control. Check your government's advice before travelling.

Entry and legal status

• Visa - for most nationalities it is arranged online; an ordinary single-entry visa costs $50, or $100 for US citizens. Arriving from a yellow fever country requires a vaccination certificate.
• Employment - the labour authority issues the work permit, then a residence permit for employees is obtained; the fee is $2,000.
• Investors and own business - the residence permit for investors and professionals costs $3,000, and for small business, crafts and farming $1,000.
• Validity - permits are issued for up to two years and can be renewed.
• Citizenship by investment - Tanzania has no such programme.

We prepare and file the documents for the work and residence permits together with the employer or your company.

Taxes

You become a Tanzanian tax resident by living there more than 183 days a year. Resident income tax runs on a scale up to 30%, corporate tax is 30% and value added tax is 18%. The employer withholds tax and social security contributions from salary. A foreigner with income abroad should understand in advance which of it Tanzania will tax.

Work and economy

• Government - ministries, parliament and state companies, with contractors and consultants around them.
• Construction - roads, the railway, the airport and housing for relocating officials.
• Education - a large public university and colleges.
• Viticulture - Dodoma is the country's main wine region.
• International projects - health, water supply and agriculture.

Family and healthcare

• Schools - the choice of international schools is limited, so some foreign families live in Dar es Salaam while the working parent commutes to Dodoma.
• Healthcare - the city has a large public hospital, but complex cases go to Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, so insurance with evacuation is needed.
• Leisure - wineries, the hills around the city and safaris in Ruaha National Park a few hours' drive away.

Is it worth living here

Pros: a calm and affordable city, a dry climate without the draining heat of the coast, a fast train to Dar es Salaam and a growing economy. Cons: few international schools and Western-standard homes, limited healthcare and reliance on Swahili. Dodoma suits people working with government, on international projects or in construction. Write in the chat and we will tell you which permit you need and how long it takes.