Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Dar es Salaam Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Dar es Salaam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $432 per month in Mbeya vs $851 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Mbeya vs $1,361 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Mbeya vs $1,871 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Mbeya is about 49% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mbeya and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 68% lower, Dar es Salaam 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,055

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

$19.65 TZS 50.7K

18.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

$7.84 TZS 20.2K

1.28%

Cappuccino

$1.58 TZS 4,065

$2.03 TZS 5,235

-22.17%

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

$0.41 TZS 1,054

$0.35 TZS 907

17.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,048

$0.22 TZS 565

86.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,896

$1.04 TZS 2,679

-29.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 TZS 5,066

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,426

$1.06 TZS 2,745

-48.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 TZS 2,555

$0.77 TZS 1,991

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,576

$1.10 TZS 2,834

-9.09%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,881

$1.99 TZS 5,123

14.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

$9.28 TZS 23.9K

-57.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,832

$5.94 TZS 15.3K

-35.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.53 TZS 9,101

$4.23 TZS 10.9K

-16.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 2,959

$2.57 TZS 6,641

-55.25%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,048

$1.03 TZS 2,647

-23.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,464

$1.06 TZS 2,727

-9.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,908

$1.05 TZS 2,698

-29.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,461

$0.95 TZS 2,444

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,076

$1.57 TZS 4,038

-48.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,430

$0.85 TZS 2,183

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 TZS 1,922

$0.40 TZS 1,040

87.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 TZS 3,078

$2.01 TZS 5,176

-40.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

$6.93 TZS 17.9K

-43.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,075

$0.95 TZS 2,463

-15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TZS 3,023

$1.62 TZS 4,190

-27.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 TZS 962

$0.24 TZS 613

54.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 TZS 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,059

$1.46 TZS 3,778

-18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 TZS 4,540

$1.57 TZS 4,039

12.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,108

$13.67 TZS 35.2K

-79.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 TZS 3,263

$1.24 TZS 3,205

2.42%

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

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

$17.4K TZS 44.8M

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

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

$97.8 TZS 252.1K

-74.60%

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

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

$10.72 TZS 27.6K

81.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

$31.50 TZS 81.3K

45.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

$94.0 TZS 242.5K

-58.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.97 TZS 12.8K

Cinema Ticket

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

$4.85 TZS 12.5K

95.67%

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

$193 TZS 498.9K

$256 TZS 659.3K

-24.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

$19.2K TZS 49.6M

-93.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

$25.76 TZS 66.4K

-55.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

$41.84 TZS 107.9K

-76.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

$45.69 TZS 117.8K

-56.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

$83.8 TZS 216.1K

-67.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 297.1K

$575 TZS 1.5M

-79.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

$263 TZS 677.7K

-70.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 TZS 492.9K

$1,316 TZS 3.4M

-85.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 295.2K

$652 TZS 1.7M

-82.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 TZS 2.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 491.4K

$284 TZS 732.2K

-32.89%

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 Dar es Salaam: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Mbeya versus $575 in Dar es Salaam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 49% higher in Dar es Salaam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mbeya versus $20.00 in Dar es Salaam. Groceries tell a different story – $118 in Mbeya vs $166 in Dar es Salaam – so Mbeya 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 Dar es Salaam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dar es Salaam is pricier by about 97%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $649 per month in Mbeya and $1,276 in Dar es Salaam. 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 $23.00 in Mbeya and $20.00 in Dar es Salaam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Dar es Salaam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mbeya, where all-in costs run around $432, than in Dar es Salaam at $851. In Mbeya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dar es Salaam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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