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 $874 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $442 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,402 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,930 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $896 in Mbeya, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 98% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Mbeya 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,178

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.19 TZS 50.3K

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

-17.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 TZS 20.0K

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

-2.80%

Cappuccino

$1.94 TZS 5,101

$1.59 TZS 4,166

22.01%

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

$0.36 TZS 938

$0.37 TZS 975

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 576

$0.40 TZS 1,051

-45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,716

$0.76 TZS 1,988

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 TZS 4,966

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 TZS 2,819

$0.56 TZS 1,459

91.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 TZS 2,178

$0.94 TZS 2,478

-11.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,855

$0.93 TZS 2,452

17.20%

Eggs

$2.06 TZS 5,395

$2.36 TZS 6,192

-12.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 TZS 25.0K

$3.77 TZS 9,894

153.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

$3.78 TZS 9,913

51.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.36 TZS 11.5K

$3.51 TZS 9,201

24.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 TZS 6,728

$1.19 TZS 3,118

115.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 TZS 2,667

$0.75 TZS 1,980

36.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,794

$0.94 TZS 2,475

12.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 TZS 2,858

$0.81 TZS 2,120

34.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 TZS 2,323

$1.01 TZS 2,640

-11.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 TZS 3,951

$0.75 TZS 1,959

101.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,387

$0.56 TZS 1,477

62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,057

$0.76 TZS 1,983

-47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 TZS 5,190

$1.18 TZS 3,108

67.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.98 TZS 18.3K

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

79.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,488

$0.80 TZS 2,086

18.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,243

$1.15 TZS 3,005

40.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 683

$0.41 TZS 1,074

-36.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.62 TZS 46.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 TZS 3,719

$1.13 TZS 2,966

25.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 TZS 3,904

$1.70 TZS 4,470

-12.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.51 TZS 35.5K

$2.78 TZS 7,289

385.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,144

$1.26 TZS 3,318

-4.76%

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

$16.8K TZS 44.1M

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

$17.3K TZS 45.3M

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

$97.0 TZS 254.6K

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

287.50%

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

$10.92 TZS 28.7K

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

-43.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.24 TZS 84.6K

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

-30.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.1 TZS 249.5K

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

150.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

-52.64%

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

$258 TZS 676.9K

$194 TZS 508.6K

33.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K TZS 49.4M

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

1543.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.38 TZS 69.2K

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

130.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.45 TZS 111.4K

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

330.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.02 TZS 123.4K

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

139.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 TZS 222.5K

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

209.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 TZS 1.6M

$117 TZS 306.4K

408.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 TZS 686.3K

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

241.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 TZS 3.4M

$193 TZS 505.6K

570.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$117 TZS 307.1K

457.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,504 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 TZS 722.4K

$188 TZS 494.0K

46.25%

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 Dar es Salaam: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $594 in Dar es Salaam versus $117 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 46% 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 – $167 in Dar es Salaam vs $117 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 98%, 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 $1,311 per month in Dar es Salaam and $663 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 42% 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 $442, than in Dar es Salaam at $874. 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.