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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Mbeya vs $581 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $664 per month in Mbeya vs $872 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $898 per month in Mbeya vs $1,163 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Mbeya is about 26% cheaper than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mbeya and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 69% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.79 TZS 59.9K

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

4.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 TZS 19.7K

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

36.55%

Cappuccino

$1.47 TZS 3,863

$2.13 TZS 5,598

-30.99%

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

$0.36 TZS 956

$0.63 TZS 1,649

-42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

$0.31 TZS 805

29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,918

$1.93 TZS 5,067

-62.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,437

$2.07 TZS 5,438

-73.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 TZS 2,386

$0.75 TZS 1,978

21.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,420

$0.86 TZS 2,251

6.98%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,995

$2.68 TZS 7,052

-14.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.74 TZS 9,830

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

-51.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,951

$2.26 TZS 5,939

67.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.44 TZS 9,038

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

-43.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 3,026

$2.92 TZS 7,665

-60.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,038

$1.11 TZS 2,919

-29.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,526

$0.74 TZS 1,951

29.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 TZS 1,892

$0.58 TZS 1,528

24.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,415

$0.98 TZS 2,565

-6.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TZS 2,035

$1.55 TZS 4,079

-50.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,451

$0.74 TZS 1,946

-25.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 TZS 2,035

$0.48 TZS 1,269

60.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.10 TZS 2,890

$2.17 TZS 5,697

-49.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

-59.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 TZS 1,943

$1.55 TZS 4,062

-52.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 TZS 2,917

$1.36 TZS 3,567

-18.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 TZS 1,036

$0.29 TZS 759

34.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 TZS 2,916

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

-70.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 TZS 4,908

$0.74 TZS 1,951

152.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 TZS 7,031

$2.62 TZS 6,884

1.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,133

$1.16 TZS 3,039

2.59%

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

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

$23.73 TZS 62.4K

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

-67.82%

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

$18.80 TZS 49.4K

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

63.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.63 TZS 117.3K

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

-8.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.61 TZS 98.9K

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

26.63%

Cinema Ticket

$9.46 TZS 24.9K

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

-2.07%

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

$185 TZS 486.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,135 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.37 TZS 29.9K

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

-13.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

-43.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.10 TZS 50.2K

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

24.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.66 TZS 70.1K

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

105.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 293.7K

$150 TZS 393.4K

-25.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 TZS 199.5K

$101 TZS 264.6K

-24.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 TZS 493.6K

$203 TZS 534.6K

-7.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 294.3K

$149 TZS 392.4K

-25.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 TZS 504.5K

$312 TZS 820.9K

-38.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

30.00%

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

Last update for Mbeya: August 30, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $112 in Mbeya versus $150 in Zanzibar. 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 63% higher in Zanzibar, 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 $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $115 in Mbeya vs $166 in Zanzibar – 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 Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zanzibar is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $871 in Zanzibar. 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.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Zanzibar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mbeya and $22.00 in Zanzibar. 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 $431 in Mbeya and $581 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Zanzibar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.