Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Moshi

For one person, living is cheaper in Moshi: $246 a month against $426 in Mbeya, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. The total is higher in Mbeya despite lower rent and utilities.

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Cost of Living Index in Mbeya
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Mbeya Living Index

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Mbeya

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$426

/mo nomad

Moshi

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$246

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mbeya and in Moshi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mbeya and in Moshi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $426 per month in Mbeya vs $246 in Moshi, rent included.

Mbeya $426
Moshi $246

A couple spends around $656 per month in Mbeya vs $425 in Moshi, rent included.

Mbeya $656
Moshi $425

A family of three spends $887 per month in Mbeya vs $604 in Moshi, rent included.

Mbeya $887
Moshi $604

Mbeya costs about 73% more than Moshi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Mbeya and Moshi are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 69% lower, Moshi 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 TZS 8,080

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.68 TZS 59.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 TZS 20.4K

Cappuccino

$1.52 TZS 3,989

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

$0.37 TZS 958

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 TZS 964

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 TZS 1,882

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,435

$0.60 TZS 1,565

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 TZS 2,430

$0.77 TZS 2,022

20.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,414

$1.34 TZS 3,510

-31.34%

Eggs

$2.32 TZS 6,067

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 TZS 9,949

$8.45 TZS 22.1K

-55.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 TZS 9,734

$3.84 TZS 10.0K

-3.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.30 TZS 8,643

$2.96 TZS 7,752

11.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 3,003

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,051

$0.39 TZS 1,033

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,581

$1.49 TZS 3,915

-33.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 TZS 1,917

$0.76 TZS 2,002

-3.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 TZS 2,538

$0.77 TZS 2,027

25.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,053

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 TZS 1,465

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 TZS 1,883

$0.40 TZS 1,037

80.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.14 TZS 2,998

Wine (Bottle)

$3.72 TZS 9,744

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 TZS 2,045

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 TZS 3,038

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,036

$0.77 TZS 2,008

-48.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 TZS 2,891

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 TZS 4,834

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 TZS 6,831

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 TZS 3,204

$1.17 TZS 3,075

4.27%

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

$23.68 TZS 62.0K

$114 TZS 299.8K

-79.31%

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

$18.83 TZS 49.3K

$3.82 TZS 9,999

392.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.09 TZS 120.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.78 TZS 98.9K

Cinema Ticket

$9.50 TZS 24.9K

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

$191 TZS 500.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,129 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.42 TZS 29.9K

$18.83 TZS 49.3K

-39.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.23 TZS 24.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.08 TZS 50.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.12 TZS 68.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 297.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.4 TZS 200.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 TZS 491.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 292.3K

$185 TZS 485.5K

-39.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 501.5K

$95.2 TZS 249.4K

101.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mbeya: October 19, 2026

Last update for Moshi: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Mbeya

$115 26.9%

Moshi

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mbeya

$89 20.8%

Moshi

–

Accommodation & Living

Mbeya

$76 17.9%

Moshi

–

Sport & Entertainment

Mbeya

$57 13.3%

Moshi

–

Eating Out

Mbeya

$48 * 11.3%

Moshi

–

Clothing & Footwear

Mbeya

$30 7%

Moshi

–

Getting Around

Mbeya

$12 * 2.8%

Moshi

–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 101% higher in Mbeya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇹🇿 Mbeya

🇹🇿 Moshi

🕒 Local time

01:04 1:04 AM

Same time as Mbeya

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

541,603

221,733

💱 Currency

Tanzanian Shilling TZS Sh

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 TZS = 3.82 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.4 EUR

10,000 TZS = 3.82 USD

10,000 TZS = 3.4 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Mbeya Moshi 750 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Mbeya
Moshi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Moshi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mbeya is pricier by about 73%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $639 per month in Mbeya and $369 in Moshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $426 in Mbeya and $246 in Moshi. That's a gap of about 73%.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Mbeya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $426 in Mbeya and $246 in Moshi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Moshi – 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 Moshi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mbeya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.