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 $431 per month in Mbeya vs $720 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A couple spends around $664 per month in Mbeya vs $1,136 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

A family of three spends $898 per month in Mbeya vs $1,553 in Dar es Salaam, rent included.

Mbeya is about 40% cheaper than Dar es Salaam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mbeya and Dar es Salaam are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 69% lower, Dar es Salaam 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 TZS 5,103

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.79 TZS 59.9K

$19.12 TZS 50.3K

19.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 TZS 19.7K

$8.32 TZS 21.9K

-9.74%

Cappuccino

$1.47 TZS 3,863

$1.90 TZS 4,985

-22.63%

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

$0.36 TZS 956

$0.34 TZS 905

5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

$0.22 TZS 578

81.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,918

$0.97 TZS 2,548

-24.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 TZS 4,883

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,437

$0.81 TZS 2,122

-32.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 TZS 2,386

$0.57 TZS 1,492

59.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,420

$1.05 TZS 2,766

-12.38%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,995

$1.93 TZS 5,063

18.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.74 TZS 9,830

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

-61.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,951

$4.61 TZS 12.1K

-18.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.44 TZS 9,038

$3.87 TZS 10.2K

-11.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 3,026

$2.49 TZS 6,537

-53.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,038

$1.05 TZS 2,763

-25.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,526

$0.99 TZS 2,608

-3.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 TZS 1,892

$1.03 TZS 2,718

-30.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,415

$0.92 TZS 2,414

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TZS 2,035

$1.07 TZS 2,800

-28.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,451

$0.87 TZS 2,283

-36.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 TZS 2,035

$0.38 TZS 1,012

102.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.10 TZS 2,890

$2.30 TZS 6,057

-52.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

$6.78 TZS 17.8K

-43.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 TZS 1,943

$0.82 TZS 2,153

-9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 TZS 2,917

$1.52 TZS 4,003

-26.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 TZS 1,036

$0.24 TZS 630

62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.92 TZS 39.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 TZS 2,916

$1.61 TZS 4,234

-31.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 TZS 4,908

$1.55 TZS 4,075

20.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 TZS 7,031

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

-79.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,133

$1.32 TZS 3,467

-9.85%

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

$17.0K TZS 44.8M

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

$26.0K TZS 68.4M

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

$23.73 TZS 62.4K

$55.7 TZS 146.5K

-57.40%

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

$18.80 TZS 49.4K

$8.90 TZS 23.4K

111.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.63 TZS 117.3K

$34.85 TZS 91.6K

28.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.61 TZS 98.9K

$80.3 TZS 211.1K

-53.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 TZS 22.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.46 TZS 24.9K

$5.12 TZS 13.4K

84.77%

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

$185 TZS 486.7K

$564 TZS 1.5M

-67.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,135 TZS 3.0M

$13.3K TZS 35.1M

-91.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.37 TZS 29.9K

$14.28 TZS 37.5K

-20.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

$25.97 TZS 68.3K

-63.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.10 TZS 50.2K

$43.83 TZS 115.2K

-56.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.66 TZS 70.1K

$66.1 TZS 173.8K

-59.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 293.7K

$585 TZS 1.5M

-80.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 TZS 199.5K

$201 TZS 529.7K

-62.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 TZS 493.6K

$1,374 TZS 3.6M

-86.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 294.3K

$430 TZS 1.1M

-73.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 TZS 4.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,059 TZS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 TZS 504.5K

$277 TZS 727.3K

-30.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.25

-28.77%

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

Last update for Mbeya: August 30, 2026

Last update for Dar es Salaam: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $112 in Mbeya versus $585 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 44% 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 – $115 in Mbeya vs $151 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 67%, 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 $646 per month in Mbeya and $1,079 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 31% 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 $431, than in Dar es Salaam at $720. 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.