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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 46% more expensive than Mbeya without rent, and 98% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 59.3% more expensive than Mbeya without rent, and 100.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$22.74 TZS 58.2K
-17.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$7.54 TZS 19.3K
1.72%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.52 TZS 3,881
30.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.4 TZS 1,036
105.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.37 TZS 957
-10.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$0.8 TZS 2,039
165.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$0.61 TZS 1,558
168.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.98 TZS 2,519
60.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.96 TZS 2,447
23.96%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.33 TZS 5,974
-15.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$3.94 TZS 10.1K
305.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$3.93 TZS 10K
-20.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$3.42 TZS 8,757
226.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$1.14 TZS 2,908
142.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$0.78 TZS 1,998
56.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.02 TZS 2,604
67.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.78 TZS 2,001
98.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.01 TZS 2,579
32.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.75 TZS 1,926
61.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.56 TZS 1,427
28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.8 TZS 2,039
-33.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$1.14 TZS 2,905
314.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$4.01 TZS 10.3K
358.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$0.8 TZS 2,055
123.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.15 TZS 2,931
179.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.4 TZS 1,034
135.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.18 TZS 3,015
20.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.76 TZS 4,504
-23.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$2.74 TZS 7,012
186.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.22 TZS 3,109
2.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$25.03 TZS 64K
182.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$19.65 TZS 50.3K
-30.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$45.52 TZS 116.5K
-61.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$39.25 TZS 100.4K
6.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$9.78 TZS 25K
-40.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$194 TZS 495.6K
58.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$1,178 TZS 3M
1148.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$11.5 TZS 29.4K
381.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$9.58 TZS 24.5K
175.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$19.51 TZS 49.9K
336.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$27.21 TZS 69.6K
163.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$116 TZS 297.5K
273.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$77.5 TZS 198.3K
203.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$196 TZS 501.6K
318.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$116 TZS 296.3K
330.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$203 TZS 520.4K
245.91%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mbeya: October 28, 2025

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