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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $432 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $669 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $905 in Mbeya, rent included.

Zanzibar costs about 4% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zanzibar and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Mbeya 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

-4.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

-26.57%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$1.58 TZS 4,065

37.97%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.41 TZS 1,054

46.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.41 TZS 1,048

-24.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$0.73 TZS 1,896

165.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$0.55 TZS 1,426

221.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.99 TZS 2,555

-25.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$1.00 TZS 2,576

-13.00%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$2.28 TZS 5,881

25.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$3.81 TZS 9,832

-40.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$3.53 TZS 9,101

34.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$1.15 TZS 2,959

153.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$0.79 TZS 2,048

43.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$0.96 TZS 2,464

-21.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$0.74 TZS 1,908

-20.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$0.95 TZS 2,461

-2.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$0.81 TZS 2,076

95.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.55 TZS 1,430

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.75 TZS 1,922

-38.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$1.19 TZS 3,078

77.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

145.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$0.80 TZS 2,075

118.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$1.17 TZS 3,023

11.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.37 TZS 962

75.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,059

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 TZS 4,540

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$2.76 TZS 7,108

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.27 TZS 3,263

-5.51%

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

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

-46.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

-50.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

-45.07%

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

-0.74%

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

$193 TZS 498.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

15.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

78.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

-22.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

-49.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$115 TZS 297.1K

28.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

26.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$191 TZS 492.9K

5.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$114 TZS 295.2K

30.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

$191 TZS 491.4K

69.81%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Zanzibar 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 70% 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 – $138 in Zanzibar vs $118 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 4%, 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 $676 per month in Zanzibar 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.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $451 in Zanzibar and $432 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.