Cost of Living Comparison Between Arusha and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Arusha and Mbeya

🙂 Solo nomad: Arusha is 41.8% cheaper than Mbeya without rent, and 53% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Arusha is 41% cheaper than Mbeya without rent, and 43% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.36 TZS 8,522
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.51 TZS 69.7K
$23.09 TZS 58.5K
19.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.41 TZS 23.8K
$7.66 TZS 19.4K
22.85%
Cappuccino
$1.69 TZS 4,288
$1.58 TZS 4,004
6.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 TZS 1,113
$0.41 TZS 1,033
7.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 TZS 781
$0.41 TZS 1,031
-24.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 TZS 2,651
$0.79 TZS 2,004
32.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 TZS 7,171
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 TZS 1,602
$0.56 TZS 1,430
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.61 TZS 1,534
$1.00 TZS 2,545
-39.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 TZS 2,246
$0.94 TZS 2,383
-5.32%
Eggs
$1.75 TZS 4,436
$2.35 TZS 5,961
-25.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$3.82 TZS 9,687
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.79 TZS 9,597
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$3.47 TZS 8,779
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$1.18 TZS 2,984
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$0.78 TZS 1,986
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.01 TZS 2,559
-
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 TZS 1,914
$0.76 TZS 1,921
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 TZS 1,029
$1.00 TZS 2,534
-59.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 TZS 2,516
$0.74 TZS 1,873
33.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.56 TZS 1,427
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 TZS 1,246
$0.74 TZS 1,864
-33.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.18 TZS 2,981
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$3.83 TZS 9,710
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.74 TZS 1,875
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.17 TZS 2,969
-
🚌 Getting Around
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 TZS 439
$0.37 TZS 948
-54.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.18 TZS 2,986
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 TZS 4,724
$1.74 TZS 4,399
6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.53 TZS 19.1K
$2.74 TZS 6,936
174.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 TZS 2,993
$1.27 TZS 3,209
-7.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$24.42 TZS 61.8K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.49 TZS 24.0K
$19.50 TZS 49.4K
-51.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 TZS 128.1K
$47.04 TZS 119.2K
7.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$38.60 TZS 97.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 TZS 10.0K
$9.58 TZS 24.3K
-58.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$191 TZS 483.5K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K TZS 26.9M
$1,143 TZS 2.9M
828.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$11.74 TZS 29.7K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$9.89 TZS 25.1K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$19.45 TZS 49.3K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$26.87 TZS 68.1K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$116 TZS 293.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$76.6 TZS 194.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$287 TZS 726.6K
$191 TZS 483.4K
50.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$117 TZS 296.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arusha
Mbeya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$196 TZS 496.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13
-

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

Last update for Arusha: March 3, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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