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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $581 per month in Zanzibar vs $431 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Zanzibar vs $664 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,163 per month in Zanzibar vs $898 in Mbeya, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 35% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zanzibar and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 58% lower, Mbeya 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

$22.79 TZS 59.9K

-4.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

$7.51 TZS 19.7K

-26.76%

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

$1.47 TZS 3,863

44.90%

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

$0.36 TZS 956

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

$0.40 TZS 1,045

-22.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,067

$0.73 TZS 1,918

164.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TZS 5,438

$0.55 TZS 1,437

276.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,978

$0.91 TZS 2,386

-17.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,251

$0.92 TZS 2,420

-6.52%

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,052

$2.28 TZS 5,995

17.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

$3.74 TZS 9,830

104.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

$3.78 TZS 9,951

-40.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

$3.44 TZS 9,038

76.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

$1.15 TZS 3,026

153.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

$0.78 TZS 2,038

42.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$0.96 TZS 2,526

-22.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

$0.72 TZS 1,892

-19.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,565

$0.92 TZS 2,415

6.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 TZS 4,079

$0.77 TZS 2,035

101.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$0.55 TZS 1,451

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 TZS 1,269

$0.77 TZS 2,035

-37.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

$1.10 TZS 2,890

97.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

149.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

$0.74 TZS 1,943

109.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

$1.11 TZS 2,917

22.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

$0.39 TZS 1,036

-25.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

$1.11 TZS 2,916

243.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$1.87 TZS 4,908

-60.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

$2.67 TZS 7,031

-1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,039

$1.19 TZS 3,133

-2.52%

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

$23.73 TZS 62.4K

210.70%

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

$18.80 TZS 49.4K

-38.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

$44.63 TZS 117.3K

9.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

$37.61 TZS 98.9K

-21.03%

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$9.46 TZS 24.9K

2.11%

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

$185 TZS 486.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,135 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$11.37 TZS 29.9K

15.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

75.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

$19.10 TZS 50.2K

-19.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

$26.66 TZS 70.1K

-51.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

$112 TZS 293.7K

33.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

$75.9 TZS 199.5K

32.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

$188 TZS 493.6K

8.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

$112 TZS 294.3K

33.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 TZS 820.9K

$192 TZS 504.5K

62.73%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $150 in Zanzibar versus $112 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 63% higher in Zanzibar, 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 $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Zanzibar vs $115 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 – Zanzibar is pricier by about 35%, 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 $871 per month in Zanzibar and $646 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.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Zanzibar, 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 $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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $581 in Zanzibar and $431 in Mbeya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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