Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $720 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $431 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $664 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,553 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $898 in Mbeya, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 67% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 48% lower, Mbeya 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 TZS 5,103

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.12 TZS 50.3K

$22.79 TZS 59.9K

-16.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.32 TZS 21.9K

$7.51 TZS 19.7K

10.79%

Cappuccino

$1.90 TZS 4,985

$1.47 TZS 3,863

29.25%

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

$0.34 TZS 905

$0.36 TZS 956

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 578

$0.40 TZS 1,045

-45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 TZS 2,548

$0.73 TZS 1,918

32.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 TZS 4,883

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 TZS 2,122

$0.55 TZS 1,437

47.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TZS 1,492

$0.91 TZS 2,386

-37.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,766

$0.92 TZS 2,420

14.13%

Eggs

$1.93 TZS 5,063

$2.28 TZS 5,995

-15.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$3.74 TZS 9,830

158.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 TZS 12.1K

$3.78 TZS 9,951

21.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

$3.44 TZS 9,038

12.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 TZS 6,537

$1.15 TZS 3,026

116.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,763

$0.78 TZS 2,038

34.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,608

$0.96 TZS 2,526

3.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,718

$0.72 TZS 1,892

43.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,414

$0.92 TZS 2,415

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 TZS 2,800

$0.77 TZS 2,035

38.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 TZS 2,283

$0.55 TZS 1,451

58.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 TZS 1,012

$0.77 TZS 2,035

-50.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 TZS 6,057

$1.10 TZS 2,890

109.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

76.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 TZS 2,153

$0.74 TZS 1,943

10.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 TZS 4,003

$1.11 TZS 2,917

36.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 630

$0.39 TZS 1,036

-38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.92 TZS 39.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 TZS 4,234

$1.11 TZS 2,916

45.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 TZS 4,075

$1.87 TZS 4,908

-17.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$2.67 TZS 7,031

391.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 TZS 3,467

$1.19 TZS 3,133

10.92%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.8M

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

$26.0K TZS 68.4M

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

$55.7 TZS 146.5K

$23.73 TZS 62.4K

134.77%

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

$8.90 TZS 23.4K

$18.80 TZS 49.4K

-52.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.85 TZS 91.6K

$44.63 TZS 117.3K

-21.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.3 TZS 211.1K

$37.61 TZS 98.9K

113.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 TZS 22.2K

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 TZS 13.4K

$9.46 TZS 24.9K

-45.88%

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

$564 TZS 1.5M

$185 TZS 486.7K

204.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K TZS 35.1M

$1,135 TZS 3.0M

1076.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.28 TZS 37.5K

$11.37 TZS 29.9K

25.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.97 TZS 68.3K

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

172.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.83 TZS 115.2K

$19.10 TZS 50.2K

129.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 TZS 173.8K

$26.66 TZS 70.1K

147.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 TZS 1.5M

$112 TZS 293.7K

423.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 TZS 529.7K

$75.9 TZS 199.5K

165.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

$188 TZS 493.6K

631.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 TZS 1.1M

$112 TZS 294.3K

283.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,059 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 TZS 727.3K

$192 TZS 504.5K

44.18%

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 Dar es Salaam: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $585 in Dar es Salaam versus $112 in Mbeya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 44% higher in Dar es Salaam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Groceries tell a different story – $151 in Dar es Salaam vs $115 in Mbeya – so Mbeya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Dar es Salaam vs Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,079 per month in Dar es Salaam and $646 in Mbeya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mbeya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam and $23.00 in Mbeya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Dar es Salaam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mbeya, where all-in costs run around $431, than in Dar es Salaam at $720. In Mbeya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mbeya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mbeya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dar es Salaam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.