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: $391 in Bagamoyo versus $426 in Mbeya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $655 in Bagamoyo versus $666 in Mbeya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $920 in Bagamoyo versus $905 in Mbeya.

Living in Bagamoyo costs roughly 8% less than in Mbeya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bagamoyo 72% lower, Mbeya 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.93 TZS 5,085

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.28 TZS 29.7K

$22.30 TZS 58.6K

-49.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 TZS 23.0K

$7.39 TZS 19.4K

18.54%

Cappuccino

$1.96 TZS 5,143

$1.53 TZS 4,034

28.10%

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

$0.32 TZS 853

$0.39 TZS 1,038

-17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 TZS 520

$0.36 TZS 955

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 TZS 2,547

$0.77 TZS 2,028

25.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 TZS 5,078

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 TZS 2,081

$0.56 TZS 1,470

41.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 TZS 1,578

$0.92 TZS 2,431

-34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.36 TZS 953

$0.91 TZS 2,380

-60.44%

Eggs

$1.91 TZS 5,016

$2.32 TZS 6,106

-17.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 TZS 25.1K

$3.68 TZS 9,665

159.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 TZS 12.0K

$3.83 TZS 10.1K

19.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 TZS 10.4K

$3.32 TZS 8,732

18.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 TZS 6,823

$1.10 TZS 2,888

136.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,456

$0.79 TZS 2,086

17.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 TZS 2,539

$0.91 TZS 2,404

6.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 TZS 1,566

$0.79 TZS 2,065

-24.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 TZS 827

$1.00 TZS 2,617

-69.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 TZS 821

$0.75 TZS 1,967

-58.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 TZS 2,309

$0.59 TZS 1,549

49.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 TZS 925

$0.74 TZS 1,946

-52.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 TZS 6,127

$1.11 TZS 2,930

109.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.68 TZS 17.6K

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

72.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,342

$0.79 TZS 2,087

12.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 TZS 3,962

$1.10 TZS 2,885

37.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,044

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.62 TZS 4,251

$1.11 TZS 2,929

45.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 TZS 3,884

$1.92 TZS 5,039

-22.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.37 TZS 35.1K

$2.57 TZS 6,760

420.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 TZS 3,472

$1.25 TZS 3,275

5.60%

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

$16.7K TZS 43.9M

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

$26.4K TZS 69.5M

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

$55.6 TZS 146.2K

$23.71 TZS 62.3K

134.54%

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

$4.62 TZS 12.1K

$18.59 TZS 48.9K

-75.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.3K

$45.17 TZS 118.7K

-49.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.78 TZS 99.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 TZS 13.6K

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

-45.80%

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

$576 TZS 1.5M

$189 TZS 496.1K

205.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K TZS 35.3M

$1,150 TZS 3.0M

1065.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.15 TZS 37.2K

$11.29 TZS 29.7K

25.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.01 TZS 68.4K

$9.32 TZS 24.5K

179.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.03 TZS 115.8K

$18.57 TZS 48.8K

137.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.5 TZS 174.7K

$26.49 TZS 69.6K

150.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$57.2 TZS 150.4K

$116 TZS 303.9K

-50.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.8 TZS 201.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$228 TZS 600.1K

$187 TZS 491.6K

22.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 TZS 295.9K

$113 TZS 295.8K

0.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$193 TZS 506.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

40.38%

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

Last update for Bagamoyo: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $57.2 in Bagamoyo and $116 in Mbeya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Bagamoyo vs $22.00 in Mbeya. Groceries flip the comparison at $142 vs $115, 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

Bagamoyo wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Mbeya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bagamoyo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $586 in Bagamoyo and $639 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: $57.2 in Bagamoyo versus $116 in Mbeya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $576 in Bagamoyo versus $189 in Mbeya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bagamoyo – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $22.00 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.

Expats usually find Bagamoyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Mbeya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.