Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Mbeya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $146 per month in Mwanza vs $440 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $223 per month in Mwanza vs $672 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $300 per month in Mwanza vs $903 in Mbeya, rent included.

Mwanza is about 67% cheaper than Mbeya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mwanza and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Mwanza 89% lower, Mbeya 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.45 TZS 6,400

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.48 TZS 40.4K

$23.25 TZS 60.7K

-33.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 TZS 12.5K

$7.69 TZS 20.1K

-37.84%

Cappuccino

$2.70 TZS 7,042

$1.51 TZS 3,949

78.81%

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

$0.30 TZS 789

$0.41 TZS 1,058

-26.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 TZS 722

$0.37 TZS 975

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 TZS 2,426

$0.79 TZS 2,055

17.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 TZS 3,447

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)

$66.8 TZS 174.3K

$24.66 TZS 64.4K

170.72%

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 500.3K

$192 TZS 502.3K

-0.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mwanza: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 0% higher in Mbeya, 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 $15.00 in Mwanza versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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

Mwanza vs Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mbeya is pricier by about 201%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $219 per month in Mwanza and $660 in Mbeya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $146 in Mwanza and $440 in Mbeya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Mwanza and $23.00 in Mbeya. 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 $146 in Mwanza and $440 in Mbeya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mwanza – 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 Mwanza. 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.