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: $442 in Mbeya versus $441 in Bagamoyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $669 in Mbeya versus $706 in Bagamoyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $896 in Mbeya versus $971 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 67% lower, Bagamoyo 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 TZS 5,185

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

$11.46 TZS 30.1K

103.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

$7.94 TZS 20.8K

-1.01%

Cappuccino

$1.59 TZS 4,166

$1.95 TZS 5,111

-18.46%

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

$0.37 TZS 975

$0.37 TZS 960

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,051

$0.21 TZS 561

90.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 TZS 1,988

$1.04 TZS 2,730

-26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,136

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,459

$0.75 TZS 1,959

-25.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 TZS 2,478

$0.81 TZS 2,132

16.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,452

$0.38 TZS 990

144.74%

Eggs

$2.36 TZS 6,192

$2.01 TZS 5,280

17.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,894

$9.29 TZS 24.4K

-59.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,913

$5.91 TZS 15.5K

-36.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 TZS 9,201

$4.38 TZS 11.5K

-19.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,118

$2.66 TZS 6,970

-55.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,980

$0.95 TZS 2,489

-21.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$1.05 TZS 2,760

-10.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,120

$0.57 TZS 1,487

42.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,640

$0.30 TZS 778

236.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,959

$0.30 TZS 783

150.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 TZS 1,477

$0.88 TZS 2,317

-36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 TZS 1,983

$0.41 TZS 1,063

85.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.18 TZS 3,108

$2.00 TZS 5,249

-41.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

-42.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,086

$0.89 TZS 2,342

-10.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 TZS 3,005

$1.62 TZS 4,253

-29.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 TZS 1,074

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 TZS 2,966

$1.43 TZS 3,741

-20.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 TZS 4,470

$1.18 TZS 3,094

44.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 TZS 7,289

$13.79 TZS 36.2K

-79.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 TZS 3,318

$1.22 TZS 3,200

3.28%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.7M

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

$17.4K TZS 45.8M

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

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

$97.7 TZS 256.3K

-74.37%

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

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

$4.87 TZS 12.8K

299.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

$22.94 TZS 60.2K

101.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

Cinema Ticket

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

$4.89 TZS 12.8K

101.64%

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

$194 TZS 508.6K

$257 TZS 674.5K

-24.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

$19.0K TZS 49.8M

-93.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

$25.92 TZS 68.0K

-55.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

$43.36 TZS 113.8K

-77.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

$47.25 TZS 124.0K

-58.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

$42.90 TZS 112.6K

-36.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 306.4K

$58.2 TZS 152.7K

100.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 TZS 505.6K

$230 TZS 603.9K

-16.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 307.1K

$117 TZS 306.0K

0.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 TZS 494.0K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bagamoyo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Mbeya and $58.2 in Bagamoyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Mbeya vs $11.00 in Bagamoyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $117 vs $153, 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 $663 in Mbeya and $662 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: $117 in Mbeya versus $58.2 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 $11.00 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.