Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Bagamoyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Bagamoyo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $426 in Mbeya versus $391 in Bagamoyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $666 in Mbeya versus $655 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Mbeya versus $920 in Bagamoyo.

Living in Mbeya is roughly 9% more expensive than in Bagamoyo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mbeya 69% lower, Bagamoyo 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.93 TZS 5,085

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.30 TZS 58.6K

$11.28 TZS 29.7K

97.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 TZS 19.4K

$8.76 TZS 23.0K

-15.64%

Cappuccino

$1.53 TZS 4,034

$1.96 TZS 5,143

-21.94%

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

$0.39 TZS 1,038

$0.32 TZS 853

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 TZS 955

$0.20 TZS 520

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.77 TZS 2,028

$0.97 TZS 2,547

-20.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 TZS 5,078

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,470

$0.79 TZS 2,081

-29.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 TZS 2,431

$0.60 TZS 1,578

53.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,380

$0.36 TZS 953

152.78%

Eggs

$2.32 TZS 6,106

$1.91 TZS 5,016

21.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.68 TZS 9,665

$9.55 TZS 25.1K

-61.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 TZS 10.1K

$4.57 TZS 12.0K

-16.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.32 TZS 8,732

$3.94 TZS 10.4K

-15.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 TZS 2,888

$2.60 TZS 6,823

-57.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,086

$0.93 TZS 2,456

-15.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,404

$0.97 TZS 2,539

-6.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,065

$0.60 TZS 1,566

31.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,617

$0.31 TZS 827

222.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$0.31 TZS 821

141.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 TZS 1,549

$0.88 TZS 2,309

-32.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$0.35 TZS 925

111.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.11 TZS 2,930

$2.33 TZS 6,127

-52.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

$6.68 TZS 17.6K

-42.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 TZS 2,087

$0.89 TZS 2,342

-11.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 TZS 2,885

$1.51 TZS 3,962

-27.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,044

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 TZS 2,929

$1.62 TZS 4,251

-31.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 TZS 5,039

$1.48 TZS 3,884

29.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 TZS 6,760

$13.37 TZS 35.1K

-80.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,275

$1.32 TZS 3,472

-5.30%

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

$16.7K TZS 43.9M

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

$26.4K TZS 69.5M

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

$23.71 TZS 62.3K

$55.6 TZS 146.2K

-57.36%

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

$18.59 TZS 48.9K

$4.62 TZS 12.1K

302.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.17 TZS 118.7K

$22.93 TZS 60.3K

96.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.78 TZS 99.3K

Cinema Ticket

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

$5.16 TZS 13.6K

84.50%

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

$189 TZS 496.1K

$576 TZS 1.5M

-67.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,150 TZS 3.0M

$13.4K TZS 35.3M

-91.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.29 TZS 29.7K

$14.15 TZS 37.2K

-20.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.32 TZS 24.5K

$26.01 TZS 68.4K

-64.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$18.57 TZS 48.8K

$44.03 TZS 115.8K

-57.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.49 TZS 69.6K

$66.5 TZS 174.7K

-60.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 TZS 303.9K

$57.2 TZS 150.4K

102.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.8 TZS 201.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 TZS 491.6K

$228 TZS 600.1K

-18.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 TZS 295.8K

$113 TZS 295.9K

-0.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$193 TZS 506.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

-28.77%

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

Last update for Mbeya: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bagamoyo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Mbeya and $57.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Mbeya vs $11.00 in Bagamoyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $115 vs $142, with Mbeya cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bagamoyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bagamoyo wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Mbeya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bagamoyo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $639 in Mbeya and $586 in Bagamoyo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $116 in Mbeya versus $57.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $189 in Mbeya versus $576 in Bagamoyo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bagamoyo – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $22.00 in Mbeya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bagamoyo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Mbeya and Bagamoyo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bagamoyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Mbeya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.