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

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.25 TZS 60.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 TZS 20.1K

Cappuccino

$1.51 TZS 3,949

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

$0.41 TZS 1,058

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 TZS 975

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 TZS 2,055

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,460

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 TZS 2,570

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,637

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,948

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.85 TZS 10.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 TZS 10.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.49 TZS 9,111

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 TZS 3,093

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,041

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,411

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,965

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,423

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,097

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 TZS 1,584

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 TZS 1,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.15 TZS 2,993

Wine (Bottle)

$3.86 TZS 10.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 TZS 1,956

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TZS 3,057

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 TZS 1,048

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,112

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.68 TZS 4,379

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 TZS 7,128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 TZS 3,187

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

$24.66 TZS 64.4K

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

$19.01 TZS 49.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.40 TZS 121.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.36 TZS 100.2K

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 TZS 25.4K

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

$191 TZS 498.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,144 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.56 TZS 30.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.94 TZS 26.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.48 TZS 50.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.26 TZS 71.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 297.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.0 TZS 200.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 TZS 498.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 TZS 306.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 TZS 502.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mtwara: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: April 25, 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.