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 $442 per month in Mbeya vs $874 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Mbeya vs $1,402 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $896 per month in Mbeya vs $1,930 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 67% lower, Dar es Salaam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 TZS 7,178

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

$19.19 TZS 50.3K

21.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

$7.64 TZS 20.0K

2.88%

Cappuccino

$1.59 TZS 4,166

$1.94 TZS 5,101

-18.04%

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

$0.37 TZS 975

$0.36 TZS 938

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,051

$0.22 TZS 576

81.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 TZS 1,988

$1.04 TZS 2,716

-26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 TZS 4,966

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,459

$1.07 TZS 2,819

-47.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 TZS 2,478

$0.83 TZS 2,178

13.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,452

$1.09 TZS 2,855

-14.68%

Eggs

$2.36 TZS 6,192

$2.06 TZS 5,395

14.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,894

$9.55 TZS 25.0K

-60.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,913

$5.74 TZS 15.1K

-34.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 TZS 9,201

$4.36 TZS 11.5K

-19.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,118

$2.56 TZS 6,728

-53.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,980

$1.02 TZS 2,667

-26.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$1.06 TZS 2,794

-11.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,120

$1.09 TZS 2,858

-25.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,640

$0.89 TZS 2,323

13.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,959

$1.51 TZS 3,951

-50.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 TZS 1,477

$0.91 TZS 2,387

-38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 TZS 1,983

$0.40 TZS 1,057

90.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.18 TZS 3,108

$1.98 TZS 5,190

-40.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

$6.98 TZS 18.3K

-44.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,086

$0.95 TZS 2,488

-15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 TZS 3,005

$1.62 TZS 4,243

-29.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 TZS 1,074

$0.26 TZS 683

57.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.62 TZS 46.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 TZS 2,966

$1.42 TZS 3,719

-20.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 TZS 4,470

$1.49 TZS 3,904

14.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 TZS 7,289

$13.51 TZS 35.5K

-79.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 TZS 3,318

$1.20 TZS 3,144

5.00%

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

$16.8K TZS 44.1M

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

$17.3K TZS 45.3M

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

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

$97.0 TZS 254.6K

-74.19%

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

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

$10.92 TZS 28.7K

78.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

$32.24 TZS 84.6K

43.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

$95.1 TZS 249.5K

-60.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

111.13%

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

$194 TZS 508.6K

$258 TZS 676.9K

-24.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

$18.8K TZS 49.4M

-93.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

$26.38 TZS 69.2K

-56.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

$42.45 TZS 111.4K

-76.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

$47.02 TZS 123.4K

-58.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

$84.8 TZS 222.5K

-67.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 306.4K

$594 TZS 1.6M

-80.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

$262 TZS 686.3K

-70.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 TZS 505.6K

$1,292 TZS 3.4M

-85.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 307.1K

$652 TZS 1.7M

-82.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,504 TZS 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 TZS 494.0K

$275 TZS 722.4K

-31.63%

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 Dar es Salaam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Mbeya versus $594 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 46% 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 $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. Groceries tell a different story – $117 in Mbeya vs $167 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 98%, 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 $663 per month in Mbeya and $1,311 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 $19.00 in Dar es Salaam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 $442, than in Dar es Salaam at $874. 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.