Cost of Living Comparison Between Mtwara and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Mtwara and Mbeya

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.62 TZS 59.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 TZS 20.3K

Cappuccino

$1.54 TZS 4,030

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

$0.36 TZS 949

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 TZS 1,032

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 TZS 2,004

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 TZS 1,557

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 TZS 2,440

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,397

Eggs

$2.22 TZS 5,814

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.80 TZS 9,984

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 TZS 10.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.48 TZS 9,135

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 TZS 2,997

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 TZS 1,893

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 TZS 2,353

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 TZS 1,994

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 TZS 2,393

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 TZS 1,902

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,441

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 TZS 2,008

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.12 TZS 2,932

Wine (Bottle)

$3.69 TZS 9,677

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 TZS 1,903

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 TZS 3,000

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 TZS 1,033

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 TZS 3,006

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 TZS 5,019

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 TZS 6,733

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 TZS 3,229

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

$23.79 TZS 62.4K

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

$18.75 TZS 49.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.31 TZS 118.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.23 TZS 100.3K

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 TZS 24.2K

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

$190 TZS 498.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,116 TZS 2.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.28 TZS 29.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.57 TZS 25.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$18.60 TZS 48.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.89 TZS 67.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 293.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.1 TZS 194.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 TZS 492.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 301.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 TZS 499.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mtwara: August 17, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: August 17, 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

Mtwara vs Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Families tend to lean toward Mtwara – 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 Mtwara. 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.