Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Machakos and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Machakos: $520 a month against $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Machakos, Kenya
Tbilisi, Georgia
Machakos
🇰🇪 Kenya
$520
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,269
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Machakos and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Machakos and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $520 in Machakos versus $1,269 in Tbilisi.

  • Machakos $520
  • Tbilisi $1,269

Estimated couple costs with rent: $802 in Machakos versus $2,016 in Tbilisi.

  • Machakos $802
  • Tbilisi $2,016

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,084 in Machakos versus $2,763 in Tbilisi.

  • Machakos $1,084
  • Tbilisi $2,763

Living in Machakos costs roughly 59% less than in Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machakos 62% lower, Tbilisi 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99 KES 389
$11.63 ₾30.07
-74.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.26 KES 2,500
$37.83 ₾97.8
-49.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.26 KES 812
$9.66 ₾24.98
-35.20%
Cappuccino
$1.97 KES 255
$3.57 ₾9.24
-44.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 KES 85.4
$1.08 ₾2.78
-38.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 KES 69.6
$0.56 ₾1.45
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 KES 281
$2.62 ₾6.78
-17.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 KES 346
$3.04 ₾7.85
-12.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.39 KES 50.9
$2.17 ₾5.60
-82.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 KES 62.7
$0.80 ₾2.06
-40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 KES 104
$1.74 ₾4.51
-54.02%
Eggs
$1.36 KES 177
$2.83 ₾7.31
-51.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.89 KES 1,413
$9.31 ₾24.07
16.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.36 KES 826
$6.52 ₾16.85
-2.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.71 KES 612
$12.95 ₾33.50
-63.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 KES 195
$1.68 ₾4.33
-10.71%
Banana (1kg)
$0.81 KES 105
$1.85 ₾4.79
-56.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.37 KES 47.49
$1.97 ₾5.10
-81.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.40 KES 51.6
$2.42 ₾6.25
-83.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 KES 102
$0.82 ₾2.11
-3.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 KES 98.6
$0.74 ₾1.91
2.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 KES 97.6
$1.34 ₾3.47
-44.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 KES 51.1
$0.77 ₾2.00
-49.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 KES 455
$3.57 ₾9.24
-1.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.31 KES 1,468
$7.67 ₾19.83
47.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 KES 248
$1.70 ₾4.39
12.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 KES 351
$2.40 ₾6.21
12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.40 ₾1.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$15.23 ₾39.38
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 KES 96.4
$1.14 ₾2.95
-35.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 KES 97.8
$0.78 ₾2.02
-3.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.86 KES 371
$11.83 ₾30.58
-75.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 KES 195
$1.45 ₾3.75
3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K KES 2.5M
$24.6K ₾63.6K
-22.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K KES 2.8M
$22.3K ₾57.8K
-2.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.0 KES 7,396
$88.8 ₾230
-35.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.83 KES 1,017
$13.12 ₾33.93
-40.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.58 KES 1,503
$19.67 ₾50.9
-41.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.98 KES 5,060
$64.1 ₾166
-39.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 ₾49.24
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.66 KES 994
$7.12 ₾18.42
7.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$45.51 KES 5,907
$375 ₾971
-87.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K KES 1.6M
$10.5K ₾27.1K
17.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.62 KES 1,509
$104 ₾268
-88.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.49 KES 3,698
$39.26 ₾102
-27.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.8 KES 8,923
$117 ₾303
-41.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.19 KES 4,956
$122 ₾315
-68.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$94.2 KES 12.2K
$695 ₾1,798
-86.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$70.4 KES 9,132
$451 ₾1,167
-84.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$155 KES 20.1K
$1,355 ₾3,504
-88.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$116 KES 15.1K
$906 ₾2,343
-87.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,295 ₾5,934
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,345 ₾3,478
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Machakos
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$385 KES 50.0K
$664 ₾1,718
-42.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.71
12.62
16.56%

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

Last update for Machakos: October 24, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Machakos
$161
Tbilisi
$234 45.3% $73
Eating Out
Machakos
$87
Tbilisi
$191 118% $103
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Machakos
$76
Tbilisi
$122 59.1% $45
Accommodation & Living
Machakos
$70
Tbilisi
$451 541% $381
Clothing & Footwear
Machakos
$66
Tbilisi
$172 160% $106
Sport & Entertainment
Machakos
$54
Tbilisi
$78 44.2% $24
Getting Around
Machakos
$4.5 *
Tbilisi
$22 386% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $94 in Machakos and $695 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 73% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19 in Machakos vs $38 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $161 vs $234 per month, with Machakos cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇰🇪 Machakos
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
18:58 6:58 PM
19:58 7:58 PM
1 h ahead of Machakos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
114,109
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to KES – Kenyan Shilling Converter

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.7 USD). 1 EUR = 145 KES (1,000 KES = 6.9 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.89 GEL (1 GEL = 0.347 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Machakos Tbilisi 4,860 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Machakos
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Machakos vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Machakos or Tbilisi?
Machakos wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Machakos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Machakos or in Tbilisi?
On paper, salaries run 42% lower in Machakos. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Machakos compared to Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $94 in Machakos versus $695 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Machakos or in Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Machakos compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you’ll spend $520 per month in Machakos versus $1,269 in Tbilisi – Machakos is about 59% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $800/month in Machakos or in Tbilisi?
At $520 in Machakos versus $1,269 in Tbilisi, a $800 budget is realistic in Machakos but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Machakos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Machakos or Tbilisi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Machakos compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Machakos and Tbilisi are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Machakos or to Tbilisi?
It comes down to priorities – Machakos wins on affordability, Tbilisi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Machakos vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?