Cost of Living Comparison Between Busia and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Busia and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $81.2 in Busia versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $134 in Busia versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $187 in Busia versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.

Living in Busia costs roughly 93% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Busia 94% lower, Tbilisi 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.15 ₾30.00

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.13 ₾116

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ₾22.11

Cappuccino

$3.13 ₾8.42

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

$0.74 ₾2.00

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₾1.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ₾5.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₾8.06

Milk (1 liter)

$0.34 UGX 1,275

$1.89 ₾5.09

-82.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 UGX 5,012

$0.73 ₾1.97

84.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.98

Eggs

$1.65 UGX 6,116

$2.45 ₾6.58

-32.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₾21.12

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ₾16.82

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 UGX 15.7K

$9.77 ₾26.28

-56.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 UGX 10.3K

$1.21 ₾3.26

128.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₾4.28

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.81

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 UGX 3,033

$2.32 ₾6.25

-64.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.91

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 UGX 6,313

$0.67 ₾1.81

153.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.16

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 UGX 989

$0.71 ₾1.92

-61.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.23 UGX 4,572

$2.92 ₾7.85

-57.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.47 UGX 20.3K

$7.25 ₾19.50

-24.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 UGX 4,234

$1.55 ₾4.17

-26.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 UGX 5,236

$2.31 ₾6.21

-38.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 ₾39.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₾3.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾20.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₾3.10

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

$18.0K ₾48.4K

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

$19.8K ₾53.4K

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

$73.4 ₾198

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

$11.64 ₾31.32

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 ₾47.79

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ₾163

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.52

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

$263 ₾707

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾209

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 ₾119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾317

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾307

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,865

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,244

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 ₾3,597

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₾2,096

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,530 ₾6,805

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,430 ₾3,847

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ₾1,702

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Busia: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

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

Busia vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busia wins on cost – living expenses run 1358% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $122 in Busia and $1,777 in Tbilisi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 156% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $81.2 per month in Busia versus $1,185 in Tbilisi – a 1358% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $81.2 in Busia versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busia but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Busia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Busia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $81.2 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Busia hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Busia and Tbilisi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Busia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1358% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.