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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $621 in Mogadishu.

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

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

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 107% more expensive than in Mogadishu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₾30.55
$2.94 SOS 1,671
298.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₾98.8
$34.31 SOS 19.5K
10.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.41
$4.41 SOS 2,504
120.86%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.90
$2.02 SOS 1,148
68.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.76
$1.19 SOS 678
-10.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.69
$0.50 SOS 285
30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₾7.05
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.08
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₾5.73
$1.31 SOS 746
67.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₾2.10
$1.57 SOS 894
-48.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$0.76 SOS 431
115.79%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.18
$1.94 SOS 1,103
41.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 ₾23.50
$4.94 SOS 2,805
82.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 ₾17.09
$3.93 SOS 2,233
66.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 ₾32.91
$4.54 SOS 2,576
177.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.36
$3.85 SOS 2,188
-56.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.73
$0.99 SOS 561
82.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.03
$3.08 SOS 1,748
-37.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 ₾6.76
$1.25 SOS 712
107.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.46 SOS 828
-40.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.68
$1.78 SOS 1,009
-63.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₾3.63
$1.54 SOS 877
-9.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$0.50 SOS 287
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.78
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₾19.66
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₾4.21
$1.97 SOS 1,119
-18.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.86
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.48 SOS 274
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₾39.41
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₾3.05
$0.98 SOS 555
19.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₾2.09
$0.54 SOS 305
48.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.33 ₾29.55
$2.93 SOS 1,667
286.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.47
$0.92 SOS 522
44.57%
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)
$22.4K ₾58.4K
$6,464 SOS 3.7M
246.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾232
$157 SOS 89.1K
-43.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 ₾34.55
$5.02 SOS 2,849
163.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₾50.8
$66.3 SOS 37.7K
-70.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 ₾178
$31.89 SOS 18.1K
114.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 ₾48.73
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ₾17.30
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₾948
$78.6 SOS 44.7K
362.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$751 SOS 426.6K
1319.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾270
$14.26 SOS 8,102
625.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 ₾101
$14.25 SOS 8,096
172.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾304
$25.29 SOS 14.4K
361.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$32.84 SOS 18.7K
273.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,780
$193 SOS 109.6K
253.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₾1,165
$78.9 SOS 44.8K
466.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,349
$484 SOS 274.7K
165.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 ₾2,399
$189 SOS 107.4K
386.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,487 ₾6,486
$3,230 SOS 1.8M
-23.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ₾3,711
$2,437 SOS 1.4M
-41.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mogadishu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 ₾1,684
$275 SOS 156.3K
134.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
0
-

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mogadishu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $193 in Mogadishu. 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: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $34.00 in Mogadishu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $162 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
Tbilisi vs Mogadishu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Mogadishu?
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 Tbilisi or in Mogadishu?
Average pay runs 135% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Mogadishu?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $193 in Mogadishu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Mogadishu?
Childcare runs $363 in Tbilisi versus $78.6 in Mogadishu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Mogadishu?
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 Tbilisi or in Mogadishu?
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, Tbilisi or Mogadishu?
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 Tbilisi compared to Mogadishu?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Mogadishu 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.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities