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: $432 in Mbeya versus $432 in Bagamoyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $669 in Mbeya versus $710 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Mbeya versus $988 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs are close between Mbeya and Bagamoyo; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mbeya 68% lower, Bagamoyo 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 TZS 5,061

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

$11.57 TZS 29.8K

101.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

$7.68 TZS 19.8K

3.39%

Cappuccino

$1.58 TZS 4,065

$1.95 TZS 5,028

-18.97%

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

$0.41 TZS 1,054

$0.36 TZS 932

13.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,048

$0.20 TZS 506

105.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,896

$1.04 TZS 2,690

-29.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 TZS 4,905

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,426

$0.76 TZS 1,952

-27.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 TZS 2,555

$0.76 TZS 1,963

30.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,576

$0.41 TZS 1,055

143.90%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,881

$2.06 TZS 5,323

10.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

$9.70 TZS 25.0K

-59.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,832

$5.87 TZS 15.1K

-35.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.53 TZS 9,101

$4.15 TZS 10.7K

-14.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 2,959

$2.63 TZS 6,794

-56.27%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,048

$0.99 TZS 2,555

-20.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,464

$1.01 TZS 2,616

-4.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,908

$0.56 TZS 1,437

32.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,461

$0.32 TZS 828

196.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,076

$0.32 TZS 837

153.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,430

$0.85 TZS 2,194

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 TZS 1,922

$0.41 TZS 1,055

82.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 TZS 3,078

$2.06 TZS 5,322

-42.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

$7.09 TZS 18.3K

-45.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,075

$0.96 TZS 2,483

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TZS 3,023

$1.67 TZS 4,312

-29.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 TZS 962

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,059

$1.47 TZS 3,803

-19.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 TZS 4,540

$1.12 TZS 2,887

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,108

$13.69 TZS 35.3K

-79.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 TZS 3,263

$1.24 TZS 3,203

2.42%

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

$17.1K TZS 44.0M

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

$17.3K TZS 44.6M

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

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

$97.4 TZS 251.1K

-74.50%

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

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

$4.77 TZS 12.3K

307.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

$23.11 TZS 59.6K

98.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

Cinema Ticket

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

$4.86 TZS 12.5K

95.27%

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

$193 TZS 498.9K

$252 TZS 650.1K

-23.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

$19.5K TZS 50.2M

-93.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

$25.98 TZS 67.0K

-55.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

$41.99 TZS 108.3K

-76.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

$46.51 TZS 119.9K

-57.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

$42.78 TZS 110.3K

-36.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 297.1K

$57.9 TZS 149.3K

99.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 TZS 492.9K

$231 TZS 596.8K

-17.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 295.2K

$116 TZS 298.1K

-0.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 491.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

-33.91%

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

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bagamoyo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Mbeya and $57.9 in Bagamoyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Mbeya vs $12.00 in Bagamoyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $118 vs $154, 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

You'd need roughly $649 in Mbeya and $648 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: $115 in Mbeya versus $57.9 in Bagamoyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mbeya pay roughly 31% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Bagamoyo – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $23.00 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.

It comes down to priorities – Bagamoyo wins on affordability, Mbeya on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.