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: $441 in Bagamoyo versus $442 in Mbeya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $706 in Bagamoyo versus $669 in Mbeya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $971 in Bagamoyo versus $896 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 67% lower, Mbeya 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 TZS 5,185

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.46 TZS 30.1K

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

-50.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 TZS 20.8K

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

1.02%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,111

$1.59 TZS 4,166

22.64%

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

$0.37 TZS 960

$0.37 TZS 975

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 TZS 561

$0.40 TZS 1,051

-47.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,730

$0.76 TZS 1,988

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,136

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 TZS 1,959

$0.56 TZS 1,459

33.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,132

$0.94 TZS 2,478

-13.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.38 TZS 990

$0.93 TZS 2,452

-59.14%

Eggs

$2.01 TZS 5,280

$2.36 TZS 6,192

-14.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 TZS 24.4K

$3.77 TZS 9,894

146.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 TZS 15.5K

$3.78 TZS 9,913

56.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 TZS 11.5K

$3.51 TZS 9,201

24.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 TZS 6,970

$1.19 TZS 3,118

123.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,489

$0.75 TZS 1,980

26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,760

$0.94 TZS 2,475

11.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 TZS 1,487

$0.81 TZS 2,120

-29.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 TZS 778

$1.01 TZS 2,640

-70.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.30 TZS 783

$0.75 TZS 1,959

-60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 TZS 2,317

$0.56 TZS 1,477

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,063

$0.76 TZS 1,983

-46.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 TZS 5,249

$1.18 TZS 3,108

69.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

74.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 TZS 2,342

$0.80 TZS 2,086

11.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,253

$1.15 TZS 3,005

40.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 TZS 1,074

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 TZS 3,741

$1.13 TZS 2,966

26.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 TZS 3,094

$1.70 TZS 4,470

-30.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.79 TZS 36.2K

$2.78 TZS 7,289

396.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 TZS 3,200

$1.26 TZS 3,318

-3.17%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.7M

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

$17.4K TZS 45.8M

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

$97.7 TZS 256.3K

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

290.14%

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

$4.87 TZS 12.8K

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

-74.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.94 TZS 60.2K

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

-50.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 TZS 12.8K

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

-50.41%

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

$257 TZS 674.5K

$194 TZS 508.6K

32.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K TZS 49.8M

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

1555.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.92 TZS 68.0K

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

126.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.36 TZS 113.8K

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

340.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.25 TZS 124.0K

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

140.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.90 TZS 112.6K

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

56.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$58.2 TZS 152.7K

$117 TZS 306.4K

-50.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 TZS 603.9K

$193 TZS 505.6K

19.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 306.0K

$117 TZS 307.1K

-0.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 TZS 494.0K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $58.2 in Bagamoyo and $117 in Mbeya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Bagamoyo vs $23.00 in Mbeya. Groceries flip the comparison at $153 vs $117, 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 $662 in Bagamoyo and $663 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: $58.2 in Bagamoyo versus $117 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 $11.00 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.