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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $442 per month in Mbeya vs $439 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Mbeya vs $701 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $896 per month in Mbeya vs $962 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Mbeya costs about 1% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mbeya and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 67% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

4.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

34.59%

Cappuccino

$1.59 TZS 4,166

$2.27 TZS 5,963

-29.96%

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

$0.37 TZS 975

$0.60 TZS 1,587

-38.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,051

$0.34 TZS 880

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 TZS 1,988

$1.90 TZS 4,978

-60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,459

$1.70 TZS 4,452

-67.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 TZS 2,478

$0.73 TZS 1,921

28.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,452

$0.87 TZS 2,292

6.90%

Eggs

$2.36 TZS 6,192

$2.87 TZS 7,534

-17.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,894

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,913

$2.36 TZS 6,194

60.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 TZS 9,201

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

-26.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,118

$2.94 TZS 7,715

-59.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,980

$1.19 TZS 3,116

-36.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$0.80 TZS 2,101

17.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,120

$0.56 TZS 1,471

44.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,640

$0.94 TZS 2,475

7.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,959

$1.50 TZS 3,946

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 TZS 1,477

$0.79 TZS 2,068

-29.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 TZS 1,983

$0.50 TZS 1,311

52.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.18 TZS 3,108

$2.02 TZS 5,289

-41.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

-59.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,086

$1.79 TZS 4,690

-55.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 TZS 3,005

$1.31 TZS 3,438

-12.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 TZS 1,074

$0.63 TZS 1,666

-34.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 TZS 2,966

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 TZS 4,470

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 TZS 7,289

$2.77 TZS 7,270

0.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 TZS 3,318

$1.16 TZS 3,036

8.62%

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

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

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

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

87.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

101.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

80.83%

Cinema Ticket

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

1.54%

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

$194 TZS 508.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

-14.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

-44.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

29.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

99.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 306.4K

$149 TZS 390.6K

-21.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

$101 TZS 266.1K

-24.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 TZS 505.6K

$202 TZS 529.6K

-4.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 307.1K

$150 TZS 392.5K

-21.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 TZS 494.0K

$316 TZS 829.5K

-40.45%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Mbeya versus $149 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 68% higher in Zanzibar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mbeya versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $117 in Mbeya vs $139 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 – Mbeya is pricier by about 1%, 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 $663 per month in Mbeya and $659 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in Mbeya – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $442 in Mbeya and $439 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – 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 Zanzibar. 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.