Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mbeya

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 72.5% more expensive than Mbeya without rent, and 98.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 66.9% more expensive than Mbeya without rent, and 101.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$23.09 TZS 58.5K
-19.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$7.66 TZS 19.4K
-2.35%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$1.58 TZS 4,004
26.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.41 TZS 1,033
107.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.41 TZS 1,031
-14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$0.79 TZS 2,004
179.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$0.56 TZS 1,430
207.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$1.00 TZS 2,545
63.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$0.94 TZS 2,383
23.40%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$2.35 TZS 5,961
-15.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$3.82 TZS 9,687
317.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$3.79 TZS 9,597
-16.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$3.47 TZS 8,779
214.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$1.18 TZS 2,984
124.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$0.78 TZS 1,986
56.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$1.01 TZS 2,559
68.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$0.76 TZS 1,921
109.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$1.00 TZS 2,534
32.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$0.74 TZS 1,873
58.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$0.56 TZS 1,427
21.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.74 TZS 1,864
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$1.18 TZS 2,981
282.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$3.83 TZS 9,710
397.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$0.74 TZS 1,875
139.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$1.17 TZS 2,969
171.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.37 TZS 948
159.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$1.18 TZS 2,986
15.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$1.74 TZS 4,399
-22.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$2.74 TZS 6,936
193.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.27 TZS 3,209
-2.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$24.42 TZS 61.8K
191.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$19.50 TZS 49.4K
-27.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$47.04 TZS 119.2K
-62.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$38.60 TZS 97.8K
8.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$9.58 TZS 24.3K
-38.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$191 TZS 483.5K
61.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$1,143 TZS 2.9M
1194.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$11.74 TZS 29.7K
374.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$9.89 TZS 25.1K
170.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$19.45 TZS 49.3K
327.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$26.87 TZS 68.1K
160.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$116 TZS 293.5K
268.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$76.6 TZS 194.1K
209.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$191 TZS 483.4K
320.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$117 TZS 296.4K
330.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$196 TZS 496.6K
233.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
13
-61.54%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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