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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $432 per month in Mbeya vs $451 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Mbeya vs $702 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Mbeya vs $954 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Mbeya is about 4% cheaper than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mbeya and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 68% lower, Zanzibar 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

4.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

36.19%

Cappuccino

$1.58 TZS 4,065

$2.18 TZS 5,635

-27.52%

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

$0.41 TZS 1,054

$0.60 TZS 1,539

-31.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,048

$0.31 TZS 792

32.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,896

$1.94 TZS 5,011

-62.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,426

$1.77 TZS 4,574

-68.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 TZS 2,555

$0.74 TZS 1,897

33.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,576

$0.87 TZS 2,236

14.94%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,881

$2.87 TZS 7,396

-20.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,832

$2.28 TZS 5,872

67.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.53 TZS 9,101

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

-25.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 2,959

$2.92 TZS 7,541

-60.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,048

$1.13 TZS 2,908

-30.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,464

$0.75 TZS 1,943

28.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,908

$0.59 TZS 1,530

25.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,461

$0.93 TZS 2,386

2.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,076

$1.58 TZS 4,062

-48.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,430

$0.74 TZS 1,916

-25.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 TZS 1,922

$0.46 TZS 1,184

63.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 TZS 3,078

$2.11 TZS 5,442

-43.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

-59.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,075

$1.75 TZS 4,520

-54.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TZS 3,023

$1.31 TZS 3,387

-10.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 TZS 962

$0.65 TZS 1,664

-43.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,059

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 TZS 4,540

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,108

$2.76 TZS 7,125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 TZS 3,263

$1.20 TZS 3,101

5.83%

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

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

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

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

85.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

101.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

82.06%

Cinema Ticket

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

0.74%

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

$193 TZS 498.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

-13.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

-43.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

28.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

98.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 297.1K

$148 TZS 382.9K

-22.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

-20.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 TZS 492.9K

$202 TZS 520.2K

-5.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 295.2K

$150 TZS 386.0K

-23.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 491.4K

$324 TZS 834.5K

-41.11%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Mbeya versus $148 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 70% 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 – $118 in Mbeya vs $138 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 4%, 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 $649 per month in Mbeya and $676 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 17% 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 $432 in Mbeya and $451 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.