Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maseru and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Maseru: $674 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maseru
🇱🇸 Lesotho
$674
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maseru and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Maseru and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $674 in Maseru versus $1,266 in Tbilisi.

  • Maseru $674
  • Tbilisi $1,266

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Maseru versus $2,007 in Tbilisi.

  • Maseru $1,133
  • Tbilisi $2,007

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,592 in Maseru versus $2,749 in Tbilisi.

  • Maseru $1,592
  • Tbilisi $2,749

Living in Maseru costs roughly 47% less than in Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maseru 50% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.33 LSL 154
$11.34 ₾29.35
-17.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.53 LSL 405
$39.05 ₾101
-37.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.67 LSL 143
$9.63 ₾24.92
-9.97%
Cappuccino
$2.05 LSL 33.89
$3.46 ₾8.95
-40.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 LSL 17.86
$1.09 ₾2.82
-0.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 LSL 14.33
$0.63 ₾1.62
38.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.82 LSL 30.05
$2.77 ₾7.17
-34.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 LSL 38.85
$3.10 ₾8.04
-24.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 LSL 19.39
$2.25 ₾5.81
-47.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 LSL 13.04
$0.80 ₾2.07
-1.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 LSL 30.68
$1.76 ₾4.55
5.68%
Eggs
$1.56 LSL 25.79
$2.75 ₾7.11
-43.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.84 LSL 113
$9.39 ₾24.32
-27.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.24 LSL 103
$6.66 ₾17.23
-6.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.07 LSL 100
$12.92 ₾33.45
-53.02%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 LSL 31.79
$1.67 ₾4.31
15.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 LSL 36.86
$1.80 ₾4.65
23.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 LSL 45.30
$1.92 ₾4.97
43.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 LSL 39.63
$2.41 ₾6.24
-0.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 LSL 25.43
$0.86 ₾2.23
79.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 LSL 26.93
$0.69 ₾1.80
136.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 LSL 25.52
$1.40 ₾3.62
10.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 LSL 13.86
$0.71 ₾1.85
18.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.05 LSL 83.3
$3.51 ₾9.08
43.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.24 LSL 119
$7.61 ₾19.69
-4.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 LSL 17.24
$1.63 ₾4.21
-36.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 LSL 24.61
$2.31 ₾5.98
-35.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 LSL 12.80
$0.37 ₾0.96
110.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.75 LSL 491
$15.67 ₾40.57
89.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 LSL 11.76
$1.14 ₾2.95
-37.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 LSL 11.43
$0.79 ₾2.05
-12.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 LSL 60.9
$11.86 ₾30.70
-68.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 LSL 22.05
$1.40 ₾3.62
-4.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K LSL 354.1K
$24.8K ₾64.2K
-13.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.4K LSL 270.8K
$21.9K ₾56.6K
-24.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$89.1 ₾231
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.58 LSL 241
$13.21 ₾34.19
10.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.07 LSL 645
$19.76 ₾51.1
97.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.58 LSL 389
$64.9 ₾168
-63.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.02 ₾49.24
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.57 ₾17.02
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$53.2 LSL 877
$377 ₾975
-85.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,191 LSL 19.7K
$10.8K ₾27.9K
-88.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.53 LSL 768
$102 ₾265
-54.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0 LSL 908
$39.70 ₾103
38.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 LSL 1,731
$118 ₾305
-10.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 LSL 2,539
$123 ₾320
24.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$94.2 LSL 1,555
$666 ₾1,724
-85.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$54.9 LSL 906
$449 ₾1,163
-87.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 LSL 7,125
$1,284 ₾3,324
-66.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 LSL 2,791
$890 ₾2,303
-80.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$378 LSL 6,234
$2,425 ₾6,276
-84.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$514 LSL 8,485
$1,380 ₾3,573
-62.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maseru
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$623 LSL 10.3K
$680 ₾1,760
-8.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.5
12.62
-32.65%

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

Last update for Maseru: October 10, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Maseru
$196
Tbilisi
$234 19.2% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Maseru
$162
Tbilisi
$172 6.3% $10
Eating Out
Maseru
$147
Tbilisi
$188 28% $41
Accommodation & Living
Maseru
$55
Tbilisi
$449 718% $394
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maseru
$54 *
Tbilisi
$122 128% $68
Getting Around
Maseru
$37
Tbilisi
$22 39.9% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Maseru
$24 *
Tbilisi
$78 231% $54

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $94.2 in Maseru and $666 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Maseru vs $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $234 per month, with Maseru cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇱🇸 Maseru
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
08:06 8:06 AM
10:06 10:06 AM
2 h ahead of Maseru
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
227,880 Capital
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to LSL – Lesotho Loti Converter

Lesotho Loti exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 16.5 LSL (100 LSL = 6.06 USD). 1 EUR = 18.55 LSL (100 LSL = 5.39 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maseru Tbilisi 8,090 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Maseru
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Maseru vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maseru and in Tbilisi?
Maseru and Tbilisi differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($674 vs $1,266 including rent). Maseru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Tbilisi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Maseru and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $94.2 in Maseru versus $666 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Maseru – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Maseru or Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $674 per month in Maseru versus $1,266 in Tbilisi – a 88% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $674 in Maseru versus $1,266 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maseru but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Maseru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maseru and Tbilisi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Maseru or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maseru 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.
Where should expats move: Maseru or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Maseru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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