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

😐 Solo nomad: Mbeya is 1% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 2.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mbeya is 22.3% cheaper than Zanzibar without rent, and 3.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.80 TZS 12.5K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.16 TZS 60.4K
$22.36 TZS 58.3K
3.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 TZS 20.4K
$5.67 TZS 14.8K
37.92%
Cappuccino
$1.54 TZS 4,005
$2.25 TZS 5,859
-31.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 TZS 990
$0.60 TZS 1,566
-36.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 TZS 1,058
$0.33 TZS 862
24.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.76 TZS 1,975
$1.96 TZS 5,096
-61.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.64 TZS 6,874
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.56 TZS 1,455
$1.79 TZS 4,668
-68.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 TZS 2,644
$0.73 TZS 1,894
38.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 TZS 2,407
$0.88 TZS 2,287
4.55%
Eggs
$2.34 TZS 6,105
$2.88 TZS 7,514
-18.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.97 TZS 10.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 TZS 9,840
$2.28 TZS 5,947
65.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.44 TZS 8,959
$4.67 TZS 12.2K
-26.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 TZS 3,083
$2.83 TZS 7,375
-58.30%
Banana (1kg)
$0.80 TZS 2,085
$1.19 TZS 3,110
-32.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 TZS 2,501
$0.79 TZS 2,053
21.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TZS 1,938
$0.61 TZS 1,584
21.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 TZS 2,473
$1.02 TZS 2,646
-6.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 TZS 1,924
$1.56 TZS 4,078
-52.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 TZS 1,555
$0.74 TZS 1,921
-18.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 TZS 2,077
$0.49 TZS 1,287
63.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.19 TZS 3,108
$2.02 TZS 5,263
-41.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.80 TZS 9,905
$9.48 TZS 24.7K
-59.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 TZS 1,907
$1.75 TZS 4,563
-58.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 TZS 2,963
$1.33 TZS 3,465
-14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 TZS 1,056
$0.61 TZS 1,589
-32.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 TZS 3,086
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 TZS 4,442
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 TZS 6,916
$2.79 TZS 7,263
-5.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 TZS 3,192
$1.16 TZS 3,017
5.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.47 TZS 63.8K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.51 TZS 50.8K
$10.46 TZS 27.3K
86.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.56 TZS 121.4K
$23.01 TZS 60.0K
102.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.97 TZS 101.6K
$21.50 TZS 56.0K
81.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.53 TZS 24.8K
$9.58 TZS 25.0K
-0.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 TZS 495.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,153 TZS 3.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.79 TZS 30.7K
$13.56 TZS 35.3K
-13.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.80 TZS 25.5K
$17.17 TZS 44.7K
-42.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.59 TZS 51.0K
$15.27 TZS 39.8K
28.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.19 TZS 70.9K
$13.50 TZS 35.2K
101.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 TZS 304.2K
$149 TZS 389.0K
-21.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.0 TZS 203.3K
$99.8 TZS 260.1K
-21.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$191 TZS 497.8K
$200 TZS 521.7K
-4.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 TZS 299.1K
$147 TZS 383.2K
-21.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$37.8K TZS 98.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$11.5K TZS 30.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mbeya
Zanzibar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$195 TZS 507.4K
$321 TZS 836.7K
-39.36%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: April 12, 2026

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

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