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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $201 per month in Arusha vs $432 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $358 per month in Arusha vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $514 per month in Arusha vs $905 in Mbeya, rent included.

Arusha is about 53% cheaper than Mbeya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arusha and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Arusha 85% lower, Mbeya 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 TZS 8,767

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.94 TZS 72.1K

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

19.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 TZS 23.4K

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

14.48%

Cappuccino

$1.70 TZS 4,382

$1.58 TZS 4,065

7.59%

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

$0.43 TZS 1,113

$0.41 TZS 1,054

4.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 799

$0.41 TZS 1,048

-24.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 TZS 2,790

$0.73 TZS 1,896

47.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 TZS 7,677

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 TZS 1,634

$0.55 TZS 1,426

14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 TZS 1,554

$0.99 TZS 2,555

-39.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,336

$1.00 TZS 2,576

-9.00%

Eggs

$1.70 TZS 4,384

$2.28 TZS 5,881

-25.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,832

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.53 TZS 9,101

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 2,959

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,048

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,464

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,027

$0.74 TZS 1,908

6.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,048

$0.95 TZS 2,461

-56.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,571

$0.81 TZS 2,076

23.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,430

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 TZS 1,212

$0.75 TZS 1,922

-37.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 TZS 3,078

Wine (Bottle)

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,075

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TZS 3,023

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 497

$0.37 TZS 962

-48.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,059

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 TZS 4,992

$1.76 TZS 4,540

10.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 TZS 19.3K

$2.76 TZS 7,108

171.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,184

$1.27 TZS 3,263

-3.15%

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

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

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

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

-51.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 TZS 129.7K

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

9.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.97 TZS 10.2K

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

-58.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$193 TZS 498.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K TZS 26.9M

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

786.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 297.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 TZS 759.3K

$191 TZS 492.9K

54.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 295.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 491.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Arusha: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Groceries tell a different story – $36.00 in Arusha vs $118 in Mbeya – so Arusha 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

Arusha vs Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $201 in Arusha, $432 in Mbeya – roughly 115% apart. Mbeya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $302 per month in Arusha and $649 in Mbeya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha and $23.00 in Mbeya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $201 in Arusha and $432 in Mbeya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $201 in Arusha and $432 in Mbeya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

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.

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