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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $451 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $702 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $954 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 168% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Zanzibar 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

121.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

92.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

42.20%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

$2.18 TZS 5,635

37.61%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.60 TZS 1,539

36.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.31 TZS 792

48.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.94 TZS 5,011

14.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$2.77 TZS 7,141

5.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$1.77 TZS 4,574

9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$0.74 TZS 1,897

-8.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$0.87 TZS 2,236

116.09%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$2.87 TZS 7,396

-11.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

$2.28 TZS 5,872

171.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

97.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$2.92 TZS 7,541

-58.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.13 TZS 2,908

46.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$0.75 TZS 1,943

140.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$0.59 TZS 1,530

279.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$0.93 TZS 2,386

-23.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.58 TZS 4,062

-57.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$0.74 TZS 1,916

59.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$0.46 TZS 1,184

43.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$2.11 TZS 5,442

41.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

-20.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.75 TZS 4,520

-12.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

$1.31 TZS 3,387

71.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.65 TZS 1,664

-44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

$2.76 TZS 7,125

161.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.20 TZS 3,101

-5.00%

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

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

$20.0K ₾53.1K

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

$73.7 ₾196

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

$11.64 ₾30.92

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

11.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

-21.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

183.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

-29.94%

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

$266 ₾708

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

485.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

156.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

665.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

720.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

$148 TZS 382.9K

366.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

366.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

$202 TZS 520.2K

554.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

$150 TZS 386.0K

417.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

-93.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

-87.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

$324 TZS 834.5K

107.94%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $148 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 108% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $138 – 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: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $451 in Zanzibar – roughly 168% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $676 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 $43.00 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 $1,209 in Tbilisi and $451 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 $451, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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 $451 in Zanzibar to $1,209 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.