Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Zanzibar

😐 Solo nomad: Mbeya is 10.9% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 2.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mbeya is 9.1% cheaper than Zanzibar without rent, and 5.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.75 TZS 12.2K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.74 TZS 58.2K
$21.88 TZS 56K
3.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 TZS 19.3K
$5.82 TZS 14.9K
29.55%
Cappuccino
$1.52 TZS 3,881
$2.16 TZS 5,531
-29.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.4 TZS 1,036
$0.59 TZS 1,510
-32.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 TZS 957
$0.31 TZS 784
19.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.8 TZS 2,039
$1.91 TZS 4,876
-58.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.73 TZS 6,976
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.61 TZS 1,558
$1.71 TZS 4,371
-64.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 TZS 2,519
$0.72 TZS 1,840
36.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 TZS 2,447
$0.8 TZS 2,044
20.00%
Eggs
$2.33 TZS 5,974
$3 TZS 7,673
-22.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.94 TZS 10.1K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.93 TZS 10K
$2.27 TZS 5,804
73.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.42 TZS 8,757
$4.66 TZS 11.9K
-26.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 TZS 2,908
$2.85 TZS 7,303
-60.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 TZS 1,998
$1.19 TZS 3,042
-34.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 TZS 2,604
$0.74 TZS 1,906
37.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 TZS 2,001
$0.56 TZS 1,438
39.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 TZS 2,579
$0.95 TZS 2,436
6.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 TZS 1,926
$1.57 TZS 4,008
-52.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 TZS 1,427
$0.76 TZS 1,934
-26.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 TZS 2,039
$0.47 TZS 1,197
70.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.14 TZS 2,905
$2.1 TZS 5,365
-45.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.01 TZS 10.3K
$10.23 TZS 26.2K
-60.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 TZS 2,055
$1.78 TZS 4,567
-55.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 TZS 2,931
$1.37 TZS 3,502
-16.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 TZS 1,034
$0.6 TZS 1,537
-33.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 TZS 3,015
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 TZS 4,504
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 TZS 7,012
$2.63 TZS 6,730
4.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 TZS 3,109
$1.21 TZS 3,088
0.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.03 TZS 64K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.65 TZS 50.3K
$10.57 TZS 27.1K
85.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.52 TZS 116.5K
$23.08 TZS 59.1K
97.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.25 TZS 100.4K
$20.88 TZS 53.4K
87.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 TZS 25K
$9.62 TZS 24.6K
1.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$194 TZS 495.6K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,178 TZS 3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.5 TZS 29.4K
$13.24 TZS 33.9K
-13.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.58 TZS 24.5K
$17.5 TZS 44.8K
-45.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.51 TZS 49.9K
$15.53 TZS 39.7K
25.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.21 TZS 69.6K
$13.33 TZS 34.1K
104.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 TZS 297.5K
$147 TZS 376.3K
-20.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.5 TZS 198.3K
$99.8 TZS 255.4K
-22.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 TZS 501.6K
$198 TZS 506.7K
-1.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$116 TZS 296.3K
$148 TZS 379.7K
-21.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$41.1K TZS 105.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$12.1K TZS 31M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$203 TZS 520.4K
$340 TZS 869K
-40.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13
10
30.00%

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

Last update for Mbeya: October 28, 2025

Last update for Zanzibar: October 29, 2025

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