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 $851 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $432 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,361 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $905 in Mbeya, rent included.

Dar es Salaam costs about 97% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Dar es Salaam and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 37% lower, Mbeya 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,055

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.65 TZS 50.7K

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

-15.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 TZS 20.2K

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

-1.26%

Cappuccino

$2.03 TZS 5,235

$1.58 TZS 4,065

28.48%

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

$0.35 TZS 907

$0.41 TZS 1,054

-14.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 565

$0.41 TZS 1,048

-46.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 TZS 2,679

$0.73 TZS 1,896

42.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,066

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 TZS 2,745

$0.55 TZS 1,426

92.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 TZS 1,991

$0.99 TZS 2,555

-22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,834

$1.00 TZS 2,576

10.00%

Eggs

$1.99 TZS 5,123

$2.28 TZS 5,881

-12.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 TZS 23.9K

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

136.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 TZS 15.3K

$3.81 TZS 9,832

55.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 TZS 10.9K

$3.53 TZS 9,101

19.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 TZS 6,641

$1.15 TZS 2,959

123.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 TZS 2,647

$0.79 TZS 2,048

30.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TZS 2,727

$0.96 TZS 2,464

10.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,698

$0.74 TZS 1,908

41.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,444

$0.95 TZS 2,461

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 TZS 4,038

$0.81 TZS 2,076

93.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 TZS 2,183

$0.55 TZS 1,430

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,040

$0.75 TZS 1,922

-46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 TZS 5,176

$1.19 TZS 3,078

68.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.93 TZS 17.9K

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

78.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 TZS 2,463

$0.80 TZS 2,075

18.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,190

$1.17 TZS 3,023

38.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 TZS 613

$0.37 TZS 962

-35.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 TZS 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 TZS 3,778

$1.19 TZS 3,059

22.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 TZS 4,039

$1.76 TZS 4,540

-10.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.67 TZS 35.2K

$2.76 TZS 7,108

395.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 TZS 3,205

$1.27 TZS 3,263

-2.36%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

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

$97.8 TZS 252.1K

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

293.72%

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

$10.72 TZS 27.6K

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

-44.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 TZS 81.3K

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

-31.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.0 TZS 242.5K

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

143.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.97 TZS 12.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 TZS 12.5K

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

-48.89%

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

$256 TZS 659.3K

$193 TZS 498.9K

32.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K TZS 49.6M

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

1530.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 TZS 66.4K

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

125.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.84 TZS 107.9K

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

327.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.69 TZS 117.8K

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

132.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 TZS 216.1K

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

206.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 TZS 1.5M

$115 TZS 297.1K

398.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 TZS 677.7K

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

234.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 TZS 3.4M

$191 TZS 492.9K

588.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 TZS 1.7M

$114 TZS 295.2K

469.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 TZS 2.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 TZS 732.2K

$191 TZS 491.4K

49.01%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Dar es Salaam versus $115 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 49% 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 $20.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Dar es Salaam vs $118 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 97%, 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 $1,276 per month in Dar es Salaam and $649 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 $20.00 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 41% 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 $432, than in Dar es Salaam at $851. 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.