Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Mbeya

🙂 Solo nomad: Zanzibar is 1% cheaper than Mbeya without rent, and 2.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Zanzibar is 28.8% more expensive than Mbeya without rent, and 3.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 TZS 12.5K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.36 TZS 58.3K
$23.16 TZS 60.4K
-3.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 TZS 14.8K
$7.82 TZS 20.4K
-27.49%
Cappuccino
$2.25 TZS 5,859
$1.54 TZS 4,005
46.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TZS 1,566
$0.38 TZS 990
57.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 TZS 862
$0.41 TZS 1,058
-19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 TZS 5,096
$0.76 TZS 1,975
157.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 TZS 6,874
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 TZS 4,668
$0.56 TZS 1,455
219.64%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 TZS 1,894
$1.01 TZS 2,644
-27.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 TZS 2,287
$0.92 TZS 2,407
-4.35%
Eggs
$2.88 TZS 7,514
$2.34 TZS 6,105
23.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$3.97 TZS 10.3K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.28 TZS 5,947
$3.78 TZS 9,840
-39.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.67 TZS 12.2K
$3.44 TZS 8,959
35.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 TZS 7,375
$1.18 TZS 3,083
139.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 TZS 3,110
$0.80 TZS 2,085
48.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.79 TZS 2,053
$0.96 TZS 2,501
-17.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 TZS 1,584
$0.74 TZS 1,938
-17.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 TZS 2,646
$0.95 TZS 2,473
7.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 TZS 4,078
$0.74 TZS 1,924
110.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 TZS 1,921
$0.60 TZS 1,555
23.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 TZS 1,287
$0.80 TZS 2,077
-38.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02 TZS 5,263
$1.19 TZS 3,108
69.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.48 TZS 24.7K
$3.80 TZS 9,905
149.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 TZS 4,563
$0.73 TZS 1,907
139.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 TZS 3,465
$1.14 TZS 2,963
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 TZS 1,589
$0.41 TZS 1,056
48.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.18 TZS 3,086
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.70 TZS 4,442
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 TZS 7,263
$2.65 TZS 6,916
5.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 TZS 3,017
$1.22 TZS 3,192
-4.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$24.47 TZS 63.8K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.46 TZS 27.3K
$19.51 TZS 50.8K
-46.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.01 TZS 60.0K
$46.56 TZS 121.4K
-50.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.50 TZS 56.0K
$38.97 TZS 101.6K
-44.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.58 TZS 25.0K
$9.53 TZS 24.8K
0.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$190 TZS 495.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$1,153 TZS 3.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.56 TZS 35.3K
$11.79 TZS 30.7K
15.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.17 TZS 44.7K
$9.80 TZS 25.5K
75.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$15.27 TZS 39.8K
$19.59 TZS 51.0K
-22.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$13.50 TZS 35.2K
$27.19 TZS 70.9K
-50.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$149 TZS 389.0K
$117 TZS 304.2K
27.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.8 TZS 260.1K
$78.0 TZS 203.3K
27.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$200 TZS 521.7K
$191 TZS 497.8K
4.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 TZS 383.2K
$115 TZS 299.1K
28.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$37.8K TZS 98.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.5K TZS 30.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zanzibar
Mbeya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$321 TZS 836.7K
$195 TZS 507.4K
64.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
13
-23.08%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: April 12, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: April 12, 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

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