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: $621 in Mogadishu versus $1,286 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $948 in Mogadishu versus $2,044 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,274 in Mogadishu versus $2,802 in Tbilisi.

Living in Mogadishu costs roughly 52% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mogadishu 55% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 SOS 1,671
$11.72 ₾30.55
-74.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.31 SOS 19.5K
$37.88 ₾98.8
-9.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.41 SOS 2,504
$9.74 ₾25.41
-54.72%
Cappuccino
$2.02 SOS 1,148
$3.41 ₾8.90
-40.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 SOS 678
$1.06 ₾2.76
12.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 SOS 285
$0.65 ₾1.69
-23.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.70 ₾7.05
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10 ₾8.08
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 SOS 746
$2.20 ₾5.73
-40.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 SOS 894
$0.81 ₾2.10
93.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 SOS 431
$1.64 ₾4.26
-53.66%
Eggs
$1.94 SOS 1,103
$2.75 ₾7.18
-29.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.94 SOS 2,805
$9.01 ₾23.50
-45.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.93 SOS 2,233
$6.55 ₾17.09
-40.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.54 SOS 2,576
$12.62 ₾32.91
-64.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 SOS 2,188
$1.67 ₾4.36
130.54%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 SOS 561
$1.81 ₾4.73
-45.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.08 SOS 1,748
$1.93 ₾5.03
59.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 SOS 712
$2.59 ₾6.76
-51.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 SOS 828
$0.87 ₾2.26
67.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 SOS 1,009
$0.65 ₾1.68
173.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 SOS 877
$1.39 ₾3.63
10.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 SOS 287
$0.80 ₾2.08
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.36 ₾8.78
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.54 ₾19.66
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 SOS 1,119
$1.61 ₾4.21
22.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.25 ₾5.86
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 SOS 274
$0.37 ₾0.96
29.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$15.11 ₾39.41
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 SOS 555
$1.17 ₾3.05
-16.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 SOS 305
$0.80 ₾2.09
-32.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 SOS 1,667
$11.33 ₾29.55
-74.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 SOS 522
$1.33 ₾3.47
-30.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.0K ₾65.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$6,464 SOS 3.7M
$22.4K ₾58.4K
-71.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 SOS 89.1K
$89.1 ₾232
76.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.02 SOS 2,849
$13.25 ₾34.55
-62.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3 SOS 37.7K
$19.46 ₾50.8
240.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.89 SOS 18.1K
$68.4 ₾178
-53.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.68 ₾48.73
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.63 ₾17.30
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$78.6 SOS 44.7K
$363 ₾948
-78.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$751 SOS 426.6K
$10.7K ₾27.8K
-92.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.26 SOS 8,102
$104 ₾270
-86.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.25 SOS 8,096
$38.84 ₾101
-63.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$25.29 SOS 14.4K
$117 ₾304
-78.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.84 SOS 18.7K
$123 ₾320
-73.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$193 SOS 109.6K
$682 ₾1,780
-71.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.9 SOS 44.8K
$447 ₾1,165
-82.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 SOS 274.7K
$1,284 ₾3,349
-62.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 SOS 107.4K
$920 ₾2,399
-79.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,230 SOS 1.8M
$2,487 ₾6,486
29.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,437 SOS 1.4M
$1,423 ₾3,711
71.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mogadishu
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$275 SOS 156.3K
$646 ₾1,684
-57.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
12.73
-

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

Last update for Mogadishu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Mogadishu and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 135% 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: $34.00 in Mogadishu vs $38.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $232 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 107% 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 135% 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: $193 in Mogadishu versus $682 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mogadishu and in Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $78.6 in Mogadishu versus $363 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Mogadishu and in Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Mogadishu – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mogadishu or in Tbilisi?
At $621 in Mogadishu versus $1,286 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 $621 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 107% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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