Cost of Living Comparison Between Pretoria and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Pretoria and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,158 per month in Pretoria vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,776 per month in Pretoria vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,394 per month in Pretoria vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Pretoria is about 4% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pretoria and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Pretoria 14% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.23 R 134

$10.80 ₾28.71

-23.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.05 R 537

$43.18 ₾115

-23.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.71 R 76.6

$8.29 ₾22.04

-43.18%

Cappuccino

$2.02 R 32.84

$3.00 ₾7.97

-32.67%

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

$1.01 R 16.48

$0.82 ₾2.17

23.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 R 13.57

$0.46 ₾1.21

80.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 R 35.34

$2.23 ₾5.93

-2.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 R 45.89

$2.92 ₾7.75

-3.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 R 19.37

$1.93 ₾5.12

-38.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 R 17.15

$0.68 ₾1.81

55.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 R 25.49

$1.88 ₾5.00

-16.49%

Eggs

$2.38 R 38.71

$2.54 ₾6.74

-6.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 R 127

$7.42 ₾19.70

4.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 R 74.1

$6.19 ₾16.44

-26.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.39 R 104

$9.36 ₾24.87

-31.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 R 26.49

$1.22 ₾3.25

33.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 R 26.28

$1.66 ₾4.40

-2.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 R 26.28

$1.80 ₾4.78

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 R 27.55

$2.24 ₾5.96

-24.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 R 21.99

$0.71 ₾1.89

90.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 R 18.99

$0.67 ₾1.79

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 R 18.24

$1.18 ₾3.13

-5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 R 18.24

$0.66 ₾1.76

69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 R 45.77

$2.98 ₾7.91

-5.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.29 R 86.0

$7.61 ₾20.22

-30.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 R 25.25

$1.54 ₾4.08

0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 R 29.78

$2.25 ₾5.99

-18.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.22 R 52.3

$0.36 ₾0.95

794.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 R 1,038

$14.44 ₾38.38

342.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 R 22.34

$1.49 ₾3.97

-8.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 R 21.41

$0.68 ₾1.82

94.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 R 50.7

$7.23 ₾19.20

-56.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 R 21.39

$1.14 ₾3.04

15.79%

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

$19.3K R 313.1K

$18.5K ₾49.1K

4.37%

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

$25.7K R 417.9K

$20.0K ₾53.1K

28.80%

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

$122 R 1,979

$73.7 ₾196

65.31%

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

$37.75 R 614

$11.64 ₾30.92

224.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.89 R 616

$17.84 ₾47.41

112.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.18 R 523

$60.1 ₾160

-46.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.50 R 171

$16.80 ₾44.65

-37.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 R 121

$6.60 ₾17.55

13.03%

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

$196 R 3,183

$266 ₾708

-26.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,381 R 71.2K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

-15.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 R 824

$77.7 ₾206

-34.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.29 R 525

$44.75 ₾119

-27.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 R 1,419

$117 ₾310

-25.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 R 1,459

$113 ₾300

-20.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 R 6,491

$693 ₾1,840

-42.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 R 6,385

$462 ₾1,227

-14.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 R 11.9K

$1,320 ₾3,507

-44.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 R 12.4K

$774 ₾2,057

-1.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$889 R 14.4K

$2,430 ₾6,458

-63.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$707 R 11.5K

$1,446 ₾3,842

-51.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,510 R 24.5K

$673 ₾1,788

124.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.69

11.89

-1.68%

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

Last update for Pretoria: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $399 in Pretoria 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 124% higher in Pretoria, 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 $33.00 in Pretoria versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $203 – making Pretoria 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

Pretoria vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,737 per month in Pretoria 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 Pretoria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 342% less in Pretoria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $196 per month in Pretoria and $266 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pretoria, where all-in costs run around $1,158, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Pretoria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pretoria – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Pretoria. 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.