Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Isiolo Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Isiolo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $527 in Isiolo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,033 in Tbilisi versus $876 in Isiolo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,787 in Tbilisi versus $1,226 in Isiolo.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 143% more expensive than in Isiolo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.68 ₾30.42
$5.55 KES 718
110.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.79 ₾98.4
$34.56 KES 4,472
9.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.34 ₾24.31
$6.30 KES 816
48.25%
Cappuccino
$3.45 ₾9.00
$2.80 KES 363
23.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₾2.84
$0.63 KES 81.8
73.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₾1.55
$0.53 KES 67.9
11.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 ₾7.35
$2.29 KES 296
23.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ₾9.71
$2.68 KES 347
39.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ₾5.71
$0.85 KES 110
157.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.56 KES 73.0
32.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.29
$1.84 KES 239
-10.33%
Eggs
$2.76 ₾7.20
$1.65 KES 213
67.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.64 ₾25.09
$10.66 KES 1,380
-9.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.89 ₾17.94
$6.62 KES 857
4.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.15 ₾34.23
$6.33 KES 819
107.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.46
$3.16 KES 409
-45.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ₾4.49
$0.99 KES 128
73.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.87
$1.97 KES 255
-5.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 ₾6.49
$1.02 KES 131
144.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ₾2.11
$1.00 KES 130
-19.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.95 KES 123
-30.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 ₾3.60
$0.66 KES 84.9
109.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₾1.94
$0.72 KES 93.3
4.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.75
$3.43 KES 444
-2.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.81 ₾20.34
$11.57 KES 1,498
-32.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₾4.34
$2.29 KES 297
-27.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₾6.10
$2.81 KES 364
-16.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.56 ₾40.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.97
$1.53 KES 198
-25.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.03
$1.58 KES 204
-50.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.51 ₾29.97
$2.88 KES 373
299.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$1.39 KES 180
-4.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ₾64.7K
$18.7K KES 2.4M
33.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ₾57.8K
$19.3K KES 2.5M
14.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.3 ₾235
$55.7 KES 7,213
62.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.19 ₾34.35
$15.51 KES 2,007
-14.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.73 ₾51.4
$34.29 KES 4,437
-42.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.3 ₾173
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.64 ₾51.1
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ₾17.53
$7.87 KES 1,018
-14.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$356 ₾928
$240 KES 31.1K
48.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ₾27.6K
$11.0K KES 1.4M
-3.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$26.64 KES 3,447
279.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.62 ₾103
$25.38 KES 3,285
56.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₾299
$63.1 KES 8,167
81.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾314
$59.8 KES 7,736
101.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 ₾1,830
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,173
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 ₾3,321
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 ₾2,320
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,587
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,466 ₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Isiolo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$651 ₾1,696
$760 KES 98.3K
-14.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
14.71
-13.46%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 16, 2026

Last update for Isiolo: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $35.00 in Isiolo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $203 per month, with Isiolo 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
Tbilisi vs Isiolo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Isiolo?
Isiolo wins on cost – living expenses run 143% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isiolo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Isiolo?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Isiolo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Isiolo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% 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 Tbilisi compared to Isiolo?
All in, you'll spend $1,279 per month in Tbilisi versus $527 in Isiolo – a 143% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Isiolo?
At $527 in Isiolo versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Isiolo but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Isiolo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Isiolo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Isiolo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $527 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Isiolo hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Isiolo?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Isiolo 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 Isiolo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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