🙂A single person spends $1,151 per month in Pretoria vs $1,197 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,764 per month in Pretoria vs $1,868 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,377 per month in Pretoria vs $2,538 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 – Pretoria14% lower, Tbilisi10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.18R 134
$10.82₾28.39
-24.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.02R 543
$43.85₾115
-24.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.90R 80.5
$8.31₾21.80
-41.03%
Cappuccino
$2.12R 34.93
$2.97₾7.78
-28.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R 16.85
$0.77₾2.01
32.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.33
$0.46₾1.20
89.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27R 37.31
$2.14₾5.63
6.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79R 45.80
$2.87₾7.52
-2.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19R 19.50
$1.90₾4.99
-37.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02R 16.78
$0.71₾1.86
43.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56R 25.67
$1.91₾5.00
-18.32%
Eggs
$2.45R 40.28
$2.48₾6.52
-1.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.65R 126
$7.74₾20.29
-1.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.71R 77.4
$6.18₾16.21
-23.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.40R 105
$9.57₾25.12
-33.12%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63R 26.76
$1.17₾3.06
39.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53R 25.10
$1.65₾4.34
-7.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61R 26.47
$1.85₾4.84
-12.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R 27.12
$2.33₾6.11
-29.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32R 21.69
$0.71₾1.85
85.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20R 19.74
$0.67₾1.76
79.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13R 18.64
$1.19₾3.12
-5.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15R 18.91
$0.66₾1.72
74.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85R 46.84
$2.92₾7.65
-2.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.32R 87.5
$7.69₾20.18
-30.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59R 26.06
$1.59₾4.18
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86R 30.59
$2.31₾6.06
-19.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11R 51.2
$0.38₾1.01
718.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.1R 1,070
$14.76₾38.72
341.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38R 22.73
$1.50₾3.92
-8.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36R 22.37
$0.68₾1.77
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.03R 49.80
$7.26₾19.04
-58.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30R 21.40
$1.09₾2.87
19.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KR 314.0K
$18.6K₾48.8K
2.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KR 424.9K
$20.5K₾53.7K
26.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126R 2,077
$73.0₾192
73.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.89R 606
$11.97₾31.41
208.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.13R 627
$18.00₾47.22
111.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.17R 529
$61.0₾160
-47.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.56R 174
$16.52₾43.34
-36.08%
Cinema Ticket
$7.73R 127
$6.70₾17.58
15.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$200R 3,295
$269₾705
-25.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,263R 70.1K
$5,152₾13.5K
-17.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4R 828
$76.5₾201
-34.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.06R 527
$43.41₾114
-26.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1R 1,415
$120₾316
-28.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4R 1,469
$111₾290
-19.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$399R 6,557
$687₾1,803
-41.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$402R 6,600
$470₾1,234
-14.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$731R 12.0K
$1,353₾3,550
-45.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$775R 12.7K
$789₾2,069
-1.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$877R 14.4K
$2,468₾6,473
-64.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$715R 11.7K
$1,456₾3,818
-50.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pretoria
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,482R 24.4K
$659₾1,729
124.91%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $399 in Pretoria versus $687 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 125% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $205 – 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
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Pretoria?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,726 per month in Pretoria and $1,796 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 341% less in Pretoria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $200 per month in Pretoria and $269 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Pretoria or in Tbilisi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pretoria, where all-in costs run around $1,151, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Pretoria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pretoria or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Pretoria or Tbilisi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.