Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mbeya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $432 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $905 in Mbeya, rent included.

Phuket costs about 193% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Mbeya 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

94.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

6.17%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.58 TZS 4,065

85.44%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.41 TZS 1,054

68.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.41 TZS 1,048

-9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.73 TZS 1,896

230.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.55 TZS 1,426

305.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.99 TZS 2,555

84.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.00 TZS 2,576

117.00%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.28 TZS 5,881

-3.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

403.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.81 TZS 9,832

-4.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$3.53 TZS 9,101

283.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.15 TZS 2,959

185.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$0.79 TZS 2,048

103.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.96 TZS 2,464

151.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.74 TZS 1,908

181.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.95 TZS 2,461

61.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.81 TZS 2,076

82.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.55 TZS 1,430

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.75 TZS 1,922

-32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.19 TZS 3,078

270.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

398.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.80 TZS 2,075

122.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.17 TZS 3,023

131.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.37 TZS 962

270.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$1.19 TZS 3,059

153.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.76 TZS 4,540

-43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$2.76 TZS 7,108

410.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.27 TZS 3,263

7.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

390.13%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

-30.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

-60.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

55.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

-8.43%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$193 TZS 498.9K

258.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

1231.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

420.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

255.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

482.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

204.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$115 TZS 297.1K

432.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

456.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$191 TZS 492.9K

995.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$114 TZS 295.2K

1218.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$191 TZS 491.4K

166.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-59.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $115 in Mbeya. 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 167% higher in Phuket, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $118 – making Mbeya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Phuket vs Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 193%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $649 in Mbeya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $432 in Mbeya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $193 in Mbeya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mbeya, where all-in costs run around $432, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Mbeya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mbeya – 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 Mbeya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.