Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mwanza Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mwanza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $189 in Mwanza, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $293 in Mwanza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $397 in Mwanza, rent included.

Phuket costs about 561% more than Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mwanza are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 9% lower, Mwanza 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$2.39 TZS 6,275

90.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

$15.23 TZS 40.0K

114.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$4.55 TZS 12.0K

95.60%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.3

$2.67 TZS 7,007

4.87%

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

$0.88 ฿28.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.09

$0.27 TZS 708

81.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.6

$0.98 TZS 2,588

143.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$1.34 TZS 3,530

176.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

$0.91 TZS 2,388

96.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.43

$1.48 TZS 3,889

-2.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$0.96 TZS 2,530

64.58%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿70.0

$2.13 TZS 5,609

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿373

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.37

$0.95 TZS 2,500

54.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.68

$1.29 TZS 3,402

5.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.15

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.90

$0.36 TZS 959

58.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.09

$1.58 TZS 4,154

-5.70%

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

$27.1K ฿892.5K

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

$27.5K ฿903.2K

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

$103 ฿3,382

$67.0 TZS 176.2K

53.43%

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

$10.99 ฿362

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,761

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

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

$557 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿390.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,108

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿957

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,157

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,972

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

$190 TZS 500.4K

164.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 164% 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 $33.00 in Phuket versus $15.00 in Mwanza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $46.00 – making Mwanza 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 Mwanza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 561%, 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 $1,880 per month in Phuket and $284 in Mwanza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 493% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $15.00 in Mwanza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mwanza, where all-in costs run around $189, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Mwanza it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.