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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $581 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $872 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,163 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 121% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Zanzibar 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 ₾30.58

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

149.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.88 ₾98.9

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

74.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₾25.43

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

77.09%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.91

$2.13 TZS 5,598

60.09%

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

$1.06 ₾2.77

$0.63 TZS 1,649

68.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$0.31 TZS 805

109.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₾7.06

$1.93 TZS 5,067

39.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ₾8.09

$2.58 TZS 6,772

20.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₾5.74

$2.07 TZS 5,438

6.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₾2.10

$0.75 TZS 1,978

8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$0.86 TZS 2,251

90.70%

Eggs

$2.75 ₾7.19

$2.68 TZS 7,052

2.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 ₾23.52

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

17.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 ₾17.10

$2.26 TZS 5,939

189.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ₾32.94

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

107.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₾4.36

$2.92 TZS 7,665

-42.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₾4.73

$1.11 TZS 2,919

63.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₾5.04

$0.74 TZS 1,951

160.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 ₾6.76

$0.58 TZS 1,528

346.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.26

$0.98 TZS 2,565

-11.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$1.55 TZS 4,079

-58.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₾3.63

$0.74 TZS 1,946

87.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.08

$0.48 TZS 1,269

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.78

$2.17 TZS 5,697

54.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₾19.68

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

-21.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₾4.21

$1.55 TZS 4,062

3.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.86

$1.36 TZS 3,567

65.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$0.29 TZS 759

27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.11 ₾39.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

-69.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₾2.09

$0.74 TZS 1,951

8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 ₾29.58

$2.62 TZS 6,884

332.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.47

$1.16 TZS 3,039

14.66%

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

-54.48%

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

$89.1 ₾233

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

20.86%

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

$13.25 ₾34.58

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

15.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₾50.8

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

-60.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 ₾179

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

130.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 ₾48.77

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 ₾17.32

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

-31.37%

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

$363 ₾949

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾270

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

688.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 ₾101

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

132.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾304

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

658.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

845.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,782

$150 TZS 393.4K

356.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₾1,166

$101 TZS 264.6K

343.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 ₾3,353

$203 TZS 534.6K

531.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ₾2,401

$149 TZS 392.4K

516.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,487 ₾6,492

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

-93.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 ₾3,715

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

-87.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₾1,686

$312 TZS 820.9K

106.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

27.30%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $150 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 107% 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $166 – 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: $1,286 in Tbilisi, $581 in Zanzibar – roughly 121% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $871 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 $38.00 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 $1,286 in Tbilisi and $581 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 $581, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. 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 $581 in Zanzibar to $1,286 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.