Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Arusha Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Arusha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $432 per month in Mbeya vs $201 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Mbeya vs $358 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Mbeya vs $514 in Arusha, rent included.

Mbeya costs about 115% more than Arusha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mbeya and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 68% lower, Arusha 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 TZS 8,767

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

$27.94 TZS 72.1K

-16.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

$9.09 TZS 23.4K

-12.65%

Cappuccino

$1.58 TZS 4,065

$1.70 TZS 4,382

-7.06%

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

$0.41 TZS 1,054

$0.43 TZS 1,113

-4.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,048

$0.31 TZS 799

32.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,896

$1.08 TZS 2,790

-32.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 TZS 7,677

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,426

$0.63 TZS 1,634

-12.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 TZS 2,555

$0.60 TZS 1,554

65.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,576

$0.91 TZS 2,336

9.89%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,881

$1.70 TZS 4,384

34.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,832

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.53 TZS 9,101

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 2,959

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,048

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,464

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,908

$0.79 TZS 2,027

-6.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,461

$0.41 TZS 1,048

131.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,076

$1.00 TZS 2,571

-19.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,430

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 TZS 1,922

$0.47 TZS 1,212

59.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 TZS 3,078

Wine (Bottle)

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,075

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TZS 3,023

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 TZS 962

$0.19 TZS 497

94.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,059

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 TZS 4,540

$1.94 TZS 4,992

-9.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,108

$7.50 TZS 19.3K

-63.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 TZS 3,263

$1.23 TZS 3,184

3.25%

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

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

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

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

106.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

$50.3 TZS 129.7K

-8.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

Cinema Ticket

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

$3.97 TZS 10.2K

139.04%

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

$193 TZS 498.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

$10.4K TZS 26.9M

-88.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 297.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 TZS 492.9K

$294 TZS 759.3K

-35.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 295.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 491.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arusha: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mbeya versus $28.00 in Arusha. Groceries tell a different story – $118 in Mbeya vs $36.00 in Arusha – so Arusha 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

Mbeya vs Arusha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $432 in Mbeya, $201 in Arusha – roughly 115% apart. Mbeya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $649 per month in Mbeya and $302 in Arusha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mbeya and $28.00 in Arusha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $432 in Mbeya and $201 in Arusha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $432 in Mbeya and $201 in Arusha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Arusha – 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 Arusha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mbeya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.