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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Zanzibar is about 63% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$10.80 ₾28.71

-54.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$43.18 ₾115

-48.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$8.29 ₾22.04

-29.67%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$3.00 ₾7.97

-27.33%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.82 ₾2.17

-26.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.46 ₾1.21

-32.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$2.23 ₾5.93

-13.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$2.92 ₾7.75

-5.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$1.93 ₾5.12

-8.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$0.68 ₾1.81

8.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$1.88 ₾5.00

-53.72%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$2.54 ₾6.74

12.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$6.19 ₾16.44

-63.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$9.36 ₾24.87

-49.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$1.22 ₾3.25

139.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$1.66 ₾4.40

-31.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$1.80 ₾4.78

-58.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$2.24 ₾5.96

-73.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$0.71 ₾1.89

30.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$0.67 ₾1.79

135.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$1.18 ₾3.13

-37.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.66 ₾1.76

-30.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$2.98 ₾7.91

-29.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$7.61 ₾20.22

25.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$1.54 ₾4.08

13.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$2.25 ₾5.99

-41.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.36 ₾0.95

80.56%

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)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$7.23 ₾19.20

-61.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.14 ₾3.04

5.26%

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)

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$11.64 ₾30.92

-10.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$17.84 ₾47.41

27.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$60.1 ₾160

-64.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$6.60 ₾17.55

42.73%

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)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$77.7 ₾206

-82.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$44.75 ₾119

-61.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$117 ₾310

-86.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$113 ₾300

-87.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$693 ₾1,840

-78.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$462 ₾1,227

-78.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$1,320 ₾3,507

-84.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$774 ₾2,057

-80.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

$2,430 ₾6,458

1483.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

$1,446 ₾3,842

686.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

$673 ₾1,788

-51.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

-15.90%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Zanzibar versus $693 in Tbilisi. 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 $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $138 vs $203 – 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

Zanzibar vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $451 in Zanzibar, $1,209 in Tbilisi – roughly 168% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Zanzibar and $1,813 in Tbilisi. 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 $22.00 in Zanzibar and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $451 in Zanzibar and $1,209 in Tbilisi. 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.