Cost of Living Comparison Between Bagamoyo and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Bagamoyo and Mbeya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $432 in Bagamoyo versus $432 in Mbeya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $710 in Bagamoyo versus $669 in Mbeya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Bagamoyo versus $905 in Mbeya.

Monthly costs are close between Bagamoyo and Mbeya; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bagamoyo 68% lower, Mbeya 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 TZS 5,061

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.57 TZS 29.8K

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

-50.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 TZS 19.8K

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

-3.27%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,028

$1.58 TZS 4,065

23.42%

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

$0.36 TZS 932

$0.41 TZS 1,054

-12.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 TZS 506

$0.41 TZS 1,048

-51.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,690

$0.73 TZS 1,896

42.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 TZS 4,905

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 TZS 1,952

$0.55 TZS 1,426

38.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 TZS 1,963

$0.99 TZS 2,555

-23.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,055

$1.00 TZS 2,576

-59.00%

Eggs

$2.06 TZS 5,323

$2.28 TZS 5,881

-9.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 TZS 25.0K

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

147.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 TZS 15.1K

$3.81 TZS 9,832

54.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 TZS 10.7K

$3.53 TZS 9,101

17.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 TZS 6,794

$1.15 TZS 2,959

128.70%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,555

$0.79 TZS 2,048

25.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,616

$0.96 TZS 2,464

5.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,437

$0.74 TZS 1,908

-24.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 TZS 828

$0.95 TZS 2,461

-66.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 TZS 837

$0.81 TZS 2,076

-60.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,194

$0.55 TZS 1,430

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,055

$0.75 TZS 1,922

-45.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 TZS 5,322

$1.19 TZS 3,078

73.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 TZS 18.3K

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

82.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 TZS 2,483

$0.80 TZS 2,075

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 TZS 4,312

$1.17 TZS 3,023

42.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 TZS 962

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 TZS 3,803

$1.19 TZS 3,059

23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 TZS 2,887

$1.76 TZS 4,540

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.69 TZS 35.3K

$2.76 TZS 7,108

396.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,203

$1.27 TZS 3,263

-2.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.1K TZS 44.0M

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

$17.3K TZS 44.6M

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

$97.4 TZS 251.1K

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

292.15%

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

$4.77 TZS 12.3K

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

-75.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.11 TZS 59.6K

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

-49.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 TZS 12.5K

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

-48.79%

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

$252 TZS 650.1K

$193 TZS 498.9K

30.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K TZS 50.2M

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

1551.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.98 TZS 67.0K

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

127.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.99 TZS 108.3K

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

329.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.51 TZS 119.9K

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

136.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.78 TZS 110.3K

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

56.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$57.9 TZS 149.3K

$115 TZS 297.1K

-49.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$231 TZS 596.8K

$191 TZS 492.9K

21.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 TZS 298.1K

$114 TZS 295.2K

1.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 491.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

51.31%

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

Last update for Bagamoyo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.9 in Bagamoyo and $115 in Mbeya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Bagamoyo vs $23.00 in Mbeya. Groceries flip the comparison at $154 vs $118, with Mbeya cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bagamoyo vs Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $648 in Bagamoyo and $649 in Mbeya to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $57.9 in Bagamoyo versus $115 in Mbeya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mbeya pay roughly 31% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Bagamoyo – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $23.00 in Mbeya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bagamoyo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bagamoyo and Mbeya are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Bagamoyo wins on affordability, Mbeya on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.