Cost of Living Comparison Between Pietermaritzburg and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Pietermaritzburg and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,061 per month in Pietermaritzburg vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,607 per month in Pietermaritzburg vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,153 per month in Pietermaritzburg vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Pietermaritzburg is about 12% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Pietermaritzburg and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Pietermaritzburg 21% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.32 R 135

$10.80 ₾28.71

-22.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.99 R 699

$43.18 ₾115

-0.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 R 93.6

$8.29 ₾22.04

-30.52%

Cappuccino

$2.24 R 36.35

$3.00 ₾7.97

-25.33%

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

$0.88 R 14.31

$0.82 ₾2.17

7.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 R 11.20

$0.46 ₾1.21

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 R 27.13

$2.23 ₾5.93

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 R 38.12

$2.92 ₾7.75

-19.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 R 17.04

$1.93 ₾5.12

-45.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 R 13.06

$0.68 ₾1.81

17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 R 24.33

$1.88 ₾5.00

-20.21%

Eggs

$2.35 R 38.19

$2.54 ₾6.74

-7.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.99 R 114

$7.42 ₾19.70

-5.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 R 76.5

$6.19 ₾16.44

-23.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.82 R 111

$9.36 ₾24.87

-27.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 R 26.91

$1.22 ₾3.25

36.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 R 28.61

$1.66 ₾4.40

6.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 R 31.58

$1.80 ₾4.78

7.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 R 28.20

$2.24 ₾5.96

-22.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 R 25.11

$0.71 ₾1.89

116.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 R 28.64

$0.67 ₾1.79

162.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 R 21.06

$1.18 ₾3.13

10.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 R 16.19

$0.66 ₾1.76

51.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 R 47.55

$2.98 ₾7.91

-1.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.55 R 57.6

$7.61 ₾20.22

-53.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 R 23.27

$1.54 ₾4.08

-7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 R 28.92

$2.25 ₾5.99

-20.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.73 R 44.44

$0.36 ₾0.95

658.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.34 R 298

$14.44 ₾38.38

27.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 R 27.48

$1.49 ₾3.97

13.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 R 8.49

$0.68 ₾1.82

-23.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 R 64.7

$7.23 ₾19.20

-44.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 R 19.47

$1.14 ₾3.04

5.26%

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

$23.4K R 380.4K

$18.5K ₾49.1K

26.81%

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

$22.9K R 371.7K

$20.0K ₾53.1K

14.56%

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

$238 R 3,861

$73.7 ₾196

222.50%

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

$30.61 R 497

$11.64 ₾30.92

162.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 R 948

$17.84 ₾47.41

226.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.05 R 618

$60.1 ₾160

-36.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 R 80.3

$6.60 ₾17.55

-25.15%

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

$148 R 2,401

$266 ₾708

-44.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,723 R 76.8K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

-9.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 R 1,011

$77.7 ₾206

-19.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 R 615

$44.75 ₾119

-15.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$178 R 2,885

$117 ₾310

52.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 R 1,226

$113 ₾300

-33.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 R 3,280

$693 ₾1,840

-70.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 R 2,986

$462 ₾1,227

-60.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$523 R 8,492

$1,320 ₾3,507

-60.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 R 6,161

$774 ₾2,057

-51.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$916 R 14.9K

$2,430 ₾6,458

-62.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$442 R 7,187

$1,446 ₾3,842

-69.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$919 R 14.9K

$673 ₾1,788

36.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

11.89

-3.28%

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

Last update for Pietermaritzburg: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $202 in Pietermaritzburg 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 37% higher in Pietermaritzburg, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Pietermaritzburg versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $203 – making Pietermaritzburg 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

Pietermaritzburg vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,061 in Pietermaritzburg, $1,209 in Tbilisi – roughly 14% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,591 per month in Pietermaritzburg 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 Pietermaritzburg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $148 per month in Pietermaritzburg and $266 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pietermaritzburg, where all-in costs run around $1,061, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Pietermaritzburg 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 $1,061 in Pietermaritzburg 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 Pietermaritzburg. 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.