Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $600 in Mogadishu versus $1,197 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $944 in Mogadishu versus $1,868 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,289 in Mogadishu versus $2,538 in Tbilisi.

Living in Mogadishu costs roughly 50% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mogadishu 55% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.55 SOS 2,016
$10.82 ₾28.39
-67.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.03 SOS 10.2K
$43.85 ₾115
-58.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.38 SOS 2,487
$8.31 ₾21.80
-47.29%
Cappuccino
$1.47 SOS 835
$2.97 ₾7.78
-50.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 SOS 278
$0.77 ₾2.01
-36.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 SOS 187
$0.46 ₾1.20
-28.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.04 SOS 2,293
$2.14 ₾5.63
88.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$15.09 SOS 8,570
$2.87 ₾7.52
425.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 SOS 822
$1.90 ₾4.99
-23.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 SOS 768
$0.71 ₾1.86
90.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 SOS 528
$1.91 ₾5.00
-51.31%
Eggs
$1.91 SOS 1,087
$2.48 ₾6.52
-22.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.04 SOS 2,865
$7.74 ₾20.29
-34.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.06 SOS 2,305
$6.18 ₾16.21
-34.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.01 SOS 2,847
$9.57 ₾25.12
-47.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 SOS 1,972
$1.17 ₾3.06
196.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 SOS 551
$1.65 ₾4.34
-41.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 SOS 1,834
$1.85 ₾4.84
74.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 SOS 772
$2.33 ₾6.11
-41.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 SOS 676
$0.71 ₾1.85
67.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 SOS 860
$0.67 ₾1.76
125.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 SOS 762
$1.19 ₾3.12
12.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 SOS 273
$0.66 ₾1.72
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.21 SOS 688
$2.92 ₾7.65
-58.56%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.69 ₾20.18
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 SOS 1,128
$1.59 ₾4.18
25.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.31 ₾6.06
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 SOS 274
$0.38 ₾1.01
26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.18 SOS 11.5K
$14.76 ₾38.72
36.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 SOS 575
$1.50 ₾3.92
-32.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 SOS 330
$0.68 ₾1.77
-14.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.42 SOS 3,646
$7.26 ₾19.04
-11.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 SOS 579
$1.09 ₾2.87
-6.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,519 SOS 4.3M
$18.6K ₾48.8K
-59.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$6,136 SOS 3.5M
$20.5K ₾53.7K
-70.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.4 SOS 47.9K
$73.0 ₾192
15.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.04 SOS 2,860
$11.97 ₾31.41
-57.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0 SOS 32.4K
$18.00 ₾47.22
216.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.90 SOS 17.6K
$61.0 ₾160
-49.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.41 SOS 5,912
$16.52 ₾43.34
-36.99%
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.70 ₾17.58
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.70 SOS 28.2K
$269 ₾705
-81.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$577 SOS 327.5K
$5,152 ₾13.5K
-88.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.37 SOS 9,864
$76.5 ₾201
-77.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.39 SOS 13.9K
$43.41 ₾114
-43.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$26.34 SOS 15.0K
$120 ₾316
-78.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.3 SOS 34.3K
$111 ₾290
-45.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$158 SOS 89.5K
$687 ₾1,803
-77.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$66.7 SOS 37.9K
$470 ₾1,234
-85.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 SOS 264.9K
$1,353 ₾3,550
-65.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 SOS 100.3K
$789 ₾2,069
-77.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,226 SOS 1.8M
$2,468 ₾6,473
30.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,405 SOS 1.4M
$1,456 ₾3,818
65.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$262 SOS 148.6K
$659 ₾1,729
-60.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
11.89
-32.72%

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

Last update for Mogadishu: July 13, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $158 in Mogadishu and $687 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 152% 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: $18.00 in Mogadishu vs $44.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $205 per month, with Mogadishu cheaper across the board.

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
Mogadishu vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mogadishu or Tbilisi?
Mogadishu wins on cost – living expenses run 100% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mogadishu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mogadishu or in Tbilisi?
On paper, salaries run 152% lower in Tbilisi. 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 Mogadishu compared to Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $158 in Mogadishu versus $687 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mogadishu and in Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Mogadishu – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mogadishu compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $600 per month in Mogadishu versus $1,197 in Tbilisi – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mogadishu or in Tbilisi?
At $600 in Mogadishu versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mogadishu but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Mogadishu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mogadishu or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mogadishu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $600 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mogadishu hard to pass up.
How safe is Mogadishu compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Mogadishu and Tbilisi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mogadishu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mogadishu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities