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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $442 per month in Mbeya vs $200 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Mbeya vs $357 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $896 per month in Mbeya vs $514 in Arusha, rent included.

Mbeya costs about 121% more than Arusha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mbeya and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 67% lower, Arusha 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 TZS 8,877

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

$28.02 TZS 73.5K

-16.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

$9.16 TZS 24.0K

-14.19%

Cappuccino

$1.59 TZS 4,166

$1.74 TZS 4,574

-8.62%

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

$0.37 TZS 975

$0.43 TZS 1,127

-13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,051

$0.33 TZS 878

21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 TZS 1,988

$1.08 TZS 2,832

-29.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 TZS 7,424

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,459

$0.64 TZS 1,691

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 TZS 2,478

$0.57 TZS 1,492

64.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,452

$0.89 TZS 2,325

4.49%

Eggs

$2.36 TZS 6,192

$1.72 TZS 4,500

37.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,894

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,913

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 TZS 9,201

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,118

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,980

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,120

$0.75 TZS 1,967

8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,640

$0.41 TZS 1,066

146.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,959

$0.98 TZS 2,572

-23.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 TZS 1,477

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 TZS 1,983

$0.46 TZS 1,217

65.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.18 TZS 3,108

Wine (Bottle)

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,086

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 TZS 3,005

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 TZS 1,074

$0.19 TZS 506

115.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 TZS 2,966

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 TZS 4,470

$1.93 TZS 5,061

-11.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 TZS 7,289

$7.81 TZS 20.5K

-64.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 TZS 3,318

$1.19 TZS 3,125

5.88%

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

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

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

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

$9.46 TZS 24.8K

105.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

$50.7 TZS 133.1K

-9.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

Cinema Ticket

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

$3.76 TZS 9,879

162.23%

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

$194 TZS 508.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

$10.2K TZS 26.9M

-88.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 306.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 TZS 505.6K

$289 TZS 757.2K

-33.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 307.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 TZS 494.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mbeya: July 11, 2026

Last update for Arusha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mbeya versus $28.00 in Arusha. Groceries tell a different story – $117 in Mbeya vs $35.00 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: $442 in Mbeya, $200 in Arusha – roughly 121% apart. Mbeya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $663 per month in Mbeya and $300 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 $442 in Mbeya and $200 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 $442 in Mbeya and $200 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.