Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zanzibar Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Zanzibar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $439 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $701 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $962 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 173% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Zanzibar 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.39

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

126.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

96.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.80

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

42.29%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$2.27 TZS 5,963

30.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₾2.01

$0.60 TZS 1,587

28.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$0.34 TZS 880

35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$1.90 TZS 4,978

12.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$2.69 TZS 7,051

6.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$1.70 TZS 4,452

11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$0.73 TZS 1,921

-2.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$0.87 TZS 2,292

119.54%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$2.87 TZS 7,534

-13.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.21

$2.36 TZS 6,194

161.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.12

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

101.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$2.94 TZS 7,715

-60.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$1.19 TZS 3,116

38.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$0.80 TZS 2,101

131.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$0.56 TZS 1,471

316.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$0.94 TZS 2,475

-24.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$1.50 TZS 3,946

-55.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$0.79 TZS 2,068

50.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$0.50 TZS 1,311

32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$2.02 TZS 5,289

44.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.18

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

-20.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$1.79 TZS 4,690

-11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

$1.31 TZS 3,438

76.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$0.63 TZS 1,666

-39.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.04

$2.77 TZS 7,270

162.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.16 TZS 3,036

-6.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.6K ₾48.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.5K ₾53.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.0 ₾192

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.97 ₾31.41

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

15.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.22

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

-21.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

190.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.34

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

-31.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$269 ₾705

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

471.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

145.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

692.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

705.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,803

$149 TZS 390.6K

361.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$101 TZS 266.1K

363.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,550

$202 TZS 529.6K

570.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$150 TZS 392.5K

427.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,473

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

-93.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,818

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

-87.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$316 TZS 829.5K

108.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

18.90%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $149 in Zanzibar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 109% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $139 – making Zanzibar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi, $439 in Zanzibar – roughly 173% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $659 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi and $22.00 in Zanzibar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $439 in Zanzibar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zanzibar, where all-in costs run around $439, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Zanzibar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $439 in Zanzibar to $1,197 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Zanzibar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.