Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Chiang Mai

🙂 Solo nomad: Mbeya is 41.4% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 49.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mbeya is 45.9% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 49% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.01 ฿64.4
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.16 TZS 60.4K
$18.23 ฿583
27.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 TZS 20.4K
$7.65 ฿244
2.22%
Cappuccino
$1.54 TZS 4,005
$1.92 ฿61.3
-19.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 TZS 990
$0.84 ฿26.90
-54.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 TZS 1,058
$0.36 ฿11.39
13.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.76 TZS 1,975
$2.19 ฿70.0
-65.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79 ฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.56 TZS 1,455
$1.64 ฿52.4
-65.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 TZS 2,644
$1.62 ฿51.8
-37.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 TZS 2,407
$1.15 ฿36.88
-20.00%
Eggs
$2.34 TZS 6,105
$1.94 ฿62.0
20.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.97 TZS 10.3K
$15.94 ฿510
-75.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 TZS 9,840
$3.10 ฿99.2
21.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.44 TZS 8,959
$11.07 ฿354
-68.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 TZS 3,083
$2.71 ฿86.5
-56.46%
Banana (1kg)
$0.80 TZS 2,085
$1.18 ฿37.69
-32.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 TZS 2,501
$1.71 ฿54.5
-43.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TZS 1,938
$1.61 ฿51.3
-54.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 TZS 2,473
$1.39 ฿44.53
-31.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 TZS 1,924
$1.15 ฿36.70
-35.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 TZS 1,555
$0.71 ฿22.76
-15.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 TZS 2,077
$0.55 ฿17.60
45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.19 TZS 3,108
$4.57 ฿146
-73.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.80 TZS 9,905
$18.87 ฿603
-79.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 TZS 1,907
$1.82 ฿58.2
-59.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 TZS 2,963
$3.21 ฿103
-64.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 TZS 1,056
$0.88 ฿28.16
-53.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.89 ฿604
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 TZS 3,086
$1.41 ฿45.17
-16.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 TZS 4,442
$1.30 ฿41.59
30.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 TZS 6,916
$8.20 ฿262
-67.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 TZS 3,192
$1.23 ฿39.18
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K ฿677.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.3K ฿713.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.47 TZS 63.8K
$69.9 ฿2,234
-64.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.51 TZS 50.8K
$14.07 ฿450
38.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.56 TZS 121.4K
$17.70 ฿566
163.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.97 TZS 101.6K
$41.41 ฿1,324
-5.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.69 ฿214
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.53 TZS 24.8K
$5.74 ฿184
66.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 TZS 495.7K
$299 ฿9,566
-36.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,153 TZS 3.0M
$15.0K ฿479.8K
-92.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.79 TZS 30.7K
$54.8 ฿1,753
-78.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.80 TZS 25.5K
$26.35 ฿842
-62.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.59 TZS 51.0K
$84.7 ฿2,706
-76.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.19 TZS 70.9K
$69.7 ฿2,229
-61.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 TZS 304.2K
$427 ฿13.6K
-72.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.0 TZS 203.3K
$241 ฿7,697
-67.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$191 TZS 497.8K
$811 ฿25.9K
-76.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 TZS 299.1K
$498 ฿15.9K
-76.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mbeya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$195 TZS 507.4K
$639 ฿20.4K
-69.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13
5
160.00%

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

Last update for Mbeya: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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