Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Mwanza Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Mwanza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $440 per month in Mbeya vs $146 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $672 per month in Mbeya vs $223 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $903 per month in Mbeya vs $300 in Mwanza, rent included.

Mbeya costs about 201% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mbeya and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 67% lower, Mwanza 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.45 TZS 6,346

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.25 TZS 60.2K

$15.48 TZS 40.1K

50.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 TZS 19.9K

$4.78 TZS 12.4K

60.88%

Cappuccino

$1.51 TZS 3,916

$2.70 TZS 6,984

-44.07%

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

$0.41 TZS 1,049

$0.30 TZS 782

36.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 TZS 967

$0.28 TZS 716

32.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 TZS 2,038

$0.93 TZS 2,406

-15.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 TZS 3,418

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,448

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 TZS 2,549

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,615

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,899

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.85 TZS 9,978

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 TZS 10.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.49 TZS 9,035

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 TZS 3,067

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,024

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,391

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,949

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,403

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,079

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 TZS 1,571

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 TZS 1,959

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.15 TZS 2,968

Wine (Bottle)

$3.86 TZS 9,985

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 TZS 1,940

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TZS 3,032

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,039

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,086

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.68 TZS 4,343

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 TZS 7,069

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 TZS 3,160

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

$24.66 TZS 63.8K

$66.8 TZS 172.8K

-63.06%

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

$19.01 TZS 49.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.40 TZS 120.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.36 TZS 99.3K

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 TZS 25.2K

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

$191 TZS 494.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,144 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.56 TZS 29.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.94 TZS 25.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.48 TZS 50.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.26 TZS 70.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 294.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.0 TZS 199.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 TZS 494.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 TZS 304.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 TZS 498.1K

$192 TZS 496.1K

0.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mbeya: April 25, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 0% higher in Mbeya, 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 $15.00 in Mwanza. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Mwanza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mbeya is pricier by about 201%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $660 per month in Mbeya and $219 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $440 in Mbeya and $146 in Mwanza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mbeya and $15.00 in Mwanza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $440 in Mbeya and $146 in Mwanza, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mwanza – 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 Mwanza. 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.