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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $439 per month in Zanzibar vs $442 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $701 per month in Zanzibar vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $962 per month in Zanzibar vs $896 in Mbeya, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 1% cheaper than Mbeya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

-4.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

-25.70%

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

$1.59 TZS 4,166

42.77%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

$0.37 TZS 975

62.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

$0.40 TZS 1,051

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

$0.76 TZS 1,988

150.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 TZS 4,452

$0.56 TZS 1,459

203.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,921

$0.94 TZS 2,478

-22.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,292

$0.93 TZS 2,452

-6.45%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,534

$2.36 TZS 6,192

21.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,894

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

$3.78 TZS 9,913

-37.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

$3.51 TZS 9,201

35.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

$1.19 TZS 3,118

147.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

$0.75 TZS 1,980

58.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

$0.94 TZS 2,475

-14.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,471

$0.81 TZS 2,120

-30.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$1.01 TZS 2,640

-6.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,946

$0.75 TZS 1,959

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

$0.56 TZS 1,477

41.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,311

$0.76 TZS 1,983

-34.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

$1.18 TZS 3,108

71.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

148.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

$0.80 TZS 2,086

123.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

$1.15 TZS 3,005

13.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

$0.41 TZS 1,074

53.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 TZS 2,966

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 TZS 4,470

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

$2.78 TZS 7,289

-0.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,036

$1.26 TZS 3,318

-7.94%

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

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

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

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

-46.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

-50.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

-44.70%

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

-1.52%

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

$194 TZS 508.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

16.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

79.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

-22.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

-49.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

$117 TZS 306.4K

27.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

32.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

$193 TZS 505.6K

4.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

$117 TZS 307.1K

27.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$316 TZS 829.5K

$188 TZS 494.0K

67.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-23.08%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $149 in Zanzibar versus $117 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 68% higher in Zanzibar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Groceries tell a different story – $139 in Zanzibar vs $117 in Mbeya – so Mbeya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Zanzibar vs Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mbeya is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $659 per month in Zanzibar and $663 in Mbeya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in Mbeya – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar and $23.00 in Mbeya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $439 in Zanzibar and $442 in Mbeya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – 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 Zanzibar. 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.