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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 70.5% more expensive than Mbeya without rent, and 98.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 84.7% more expensive than Mbeya without rent, and 96.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$23.16 TZS 60.4K
-21.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$7.82 TZS 20.4K
-2.17%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$1.54 TZS 4,005
24.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.38 TZS 990
121.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.41 TZS 1,058
-12.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$0.76 TZS 1,975
188.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$0.56 TZS 1,455
192.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$1.01 TZS 2,644
60.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$0.92 TZS 2,407
25.00%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$2.34 TZS 6,105
-17.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$3.97 TZS 10.3K
301.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$3.78 TZS 9,840
-17.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$3.44 TZS 8,959
221.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$1.18 TZS 3,083
129.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$0.80 TZS 2,085
47.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$0.96 TZS 2,501
78.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$0.74 TZS 1,938
117.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$0.95 TZS 2,473
46.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$0.74 TZS 1,924
55.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$0.60 TZS 1,555
18.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.80 TZS 2,077
-31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$1.19 TZS 3,108
284.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$3.80 TZS 9,905
396.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$0.73 TZS 1,907
149.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$1.14 TZS 2,963
181.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.41 TZS 1,056
114.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$1.18 TZS 3,086
19.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$1.70 TZS 4,442
-23.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$2.65 TZS 6,916
209.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.22 TZS 3,192
0.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$24.47 TZS 63.8K
185.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$19.51 TZS 50.8K
-27.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$46.56 TZS 121.4K
-61.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$38.97 TZS 101.6K
6.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$9.53 TZS 24.8K
-39.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$190 TZS 495.7K
57.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$1,153 TZS 3.0M
1201.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$11.79 TZS 30.7K
364.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$9.80 TZS 25.5K
168.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$19.59 TZS 51.0K
332.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$27.19 TZS 70.9K
156.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$117 TZS 304.2K
265.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$78.0 TZS 203.3K
208.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$191 TZS 497.8K
324.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$115 TZS 299.1K
334.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mbeya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$195 TZS 507.4K
228.31%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: April 12, 2026

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

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities