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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $200 per month in Arusha vs $442 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $357 per month in Arusha vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $514 per month in Arusha vs $896 in Mbeya, rent included.

Arusha is about 55% cheaper than Mbeya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arusha and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Arusha 85% lower, Mbeya 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 TZS 8,877

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.02 TZS 73.5K

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

20.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 TZS 24.0K

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

16.54%

Cappuccino

$1.74 TZS 4,574

$1.59 TZS 4,166

9.43%

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

$0.43 TZS 1,127

$0.37 TZS 975

16.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 878

$0.40 TZS 1,051

-17.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 TZS 2,832

$0.76 TZS 1,988

42.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 TZS 7,424

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 TZS 1,691

$0.56 TZS 1,459

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TZS 1,492

$0.94 TZS 2,478

-39.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 TZS 2,325

$0.93 TZS 2,452

-4.30%

Eggs

$1.72 TZS 4,500

$2.36 TZS 6,192

-27.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,894

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,913

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 TZS 9,201

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,118

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,980

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$0.81 TZS 2,120

-7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,066

$1.01 TZS 2,640

-59.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,572

$0.75 TZS 1,959

30.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 TZS 1,477

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,217

$0.76 TZS 1,983

-39.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.18 TZS 3,108

Wine (Bottle)

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,086

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 TZS 3,005

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 506

$0.41 TZS 1,074

-53.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 TZS 2,966

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 TZS 5,061

$1.70 TZS 4,470

13.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 TZS 20.5K

$2.78 TZS 7,289

180.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,125

$1.26 TZS 3,318

-5.56%

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

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

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

$9.46 TZS 24.8K

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

-51.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 TZS 133.1K

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

9.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 TZS 9,879

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

-61.87%

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

$194 TZS 508.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K TZS 26.9M

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

792.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 306.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 TZS 757.2K

$193 TZS 505.6K

49.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 307.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 TZS 494.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Arusha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Groceries tell a different story – $35.00 in Arusha vs $117 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: $200 in Arusha, $442 in Mbeya – roughly 121% apart. Mbeya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $300 per month in Arusha and $663 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 $200 in Arusha and $442 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 $200 in Arusha and $442 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.