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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $426 per month in Mbeya vs $543 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $666 per month in Mbeya vs $886 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Mbeya vs $1,229 in Arusha, rent included.

Mbeya is about 21% cheaper than Arusha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mbeya and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 69% lower, Arusha 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 TZS 9,005

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.30 TZS 58.6K

$28.05 TZS 73.7K

-20.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 TZS 19.4K

$9.20 TZS 24.2K

-19.67%

Cappuccino

$1.53 TZS 4,034

$1.75 TZS 4,606

-12.57%

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

$0.39 TZS 1,038

$0.94 TZS 2,473

-58.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 TZS 955

$0.33 TZS 875

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.77 TZS 2,028

$1.07 TZS 2,821

-28.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 TZS 7,588

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,470

$0.93 TZS 2,451

-39.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 TZS 2,431

$0.64 TZS 1,675

43.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,380

$1.72 TZS 4,534

-47.09%

Eggs

$2.32 TZS 6,106

$1.75 TZS 4,592

32.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.68 TZS 9,665

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 TZS 10.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.32 TZS 8,732

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,888

$2.31 TZS 6,077

-52.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,086

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,404

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,065

$0.80 TZS 2,090

-1.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,617

$0.46 TZS 1,207

117.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$1.02 TZS 2,677

-26.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 TZS 1,549

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$0.78 TZS 2,051

-5.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.11 TZS 2,930

$1.53 TZS 4,023

-27.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 TZS 2,087

$0.93 TZS 2,450

-15.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 TZS 2,885

$0.93 TZS 2,447

18.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,044

$0.18 TZS 479

122.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 TZS 2,929

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 TZS 5,039

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 TZS 6,760

$7.73 TZS 20.3K

-66.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,275

$1.34 TZS 3,515

-6.72%

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

$23.71 TZS 62.3K

$28.66 TZS 75.4K

-17.27%

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

$18.59 TZS 48.9K

$8.35 TZS 22.0K

122.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.17 TZS 118.7K

$47.03 TZS 123.6K

-3.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.78 TZS 99.3K

$63.7 TZS 167.5K

-40.69%

Cinema Ticket

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

$4.70 TZS 12.3K

102.55%

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

$189 TZS 496.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,150 TZS 3.0M

$7,607 TZS 20.0M

-84.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.29 TZS 29.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.32 TZS 24.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$18.57 TZS 48.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.49 TZS 69.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 TZS 303.9K

$283 TZS 743.8K

-59.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.8 TZS 201.8K

$238 TZS 625.4K

-67.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 TZS 491.6K

$497 TZS 1.3M

-62.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 TZS 295.8K

$527 TZS 1.4M

-78.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$193 TZS 506.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mbeya: September 6, 2026

Last update for Arusha: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Mbeya versus $283 in Arusha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Mbeya versus $28.00 in Arusha. Groceries tell a different story – $115 in Mbeya vs $64.0 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: $426 in Mbeya, $543 in Arusha – roughly 27% apart. Arusha costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $639 per month in Mbeya and $814 in Arusha. 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 $22.00 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 $426 in Mbeya and $543 in Arusha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $426 in Mbeya and $543 in Arusha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Arusha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.