Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Tanga

For one person, living is cheaper in Tanga: $38.44 a month against $426 in Mbeya, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

21

Cost of Living Index in Mbeya
Learn more

Mbeya Living Index

Jump to prices

Mbeya

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$426

/mo nomad

Tanga

🇹🇿 Tanzania

$38.44

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mbeya and in Tanga

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 Tanga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $426 per month in Mbeya vs $38.44 in Tanga, rent included.

Mbeya $426
Tanga $38.44

A couple spends around $656 per month in Mbeya vs $55.9 in Tanga, rent included.

Mbeya $656
Tanga $55.9

A family of three spends $887 per month in Mbeya vs $73.3 in Tanga, rent included.

Mbeya $887
Tanga $73.3

Mbeya costs about 1008% more than Tanga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mbeya and Tanga are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 69% lower, Tanga 97% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.49 TZS 3,910

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.68 TZS 59.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 TZS 20.4K

$3.46 TZS 9,065

124.57%

Cappuccino

$1.52 TZS 3,989

$0.55 TZS 1,448

176.36%

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

$0.37 TZS 958

$0.29 TZS 758

27.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 TZS 964

$0.37 TZS 961

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 TZS 1,882

$0.91 TZS 2,391

-20.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 TZS 2,998

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,435

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 TZS 2,430

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,414

Eggs

$2.32 TZS 6,067

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 TZS 9,949

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 TZS 9,734

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.30 TZS 8,643

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 3,003

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,051

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 TZS 2,581

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 TZS 1,917

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 TZS 2,538

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

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

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

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

$23.68 TZS 62.0K

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

$18.83 TZS 49.3K

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

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 501.5K

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 Tanga: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Mbeya

$115 26.9%

Tanga

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mbeya

$89 20.8%

Tanga

–

Accommodation & Living

Mbeya

$76 17.9%

Tanga

–

Sport & Entertainment

Mbeya

$57 13.3%

Tanga

–

Eating Out

Mbeya

$48 * 11.3%

Tanga

–

Clothing & Footwear

Mbeya

$30 7%

Tanga

–

Getting Around

Mbeya

$12 * 2.8%

Tanga

–

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

Good to know

🇹🇿 Mbeya

🇹🇿 Tanga

🕒 Local time

16:18 4:18 PM

Same time as Mbeya

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

541,603

393,429

💱 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 Tanga 750 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Mbeya
Tanga

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 Tanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mbeya is pricier by about 1008%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $639 per month in Mbeya and $57.7 in Tanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $426 in Mbeya and $38.44 in Tanga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Tanga – 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 Tanga. 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.