Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Arusha Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Arusha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $562 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $905 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,248 in Arusha, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 129% more than Arusha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Arusha 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 ₾30.58

$3.46 TZS 9,091

238.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.88 ₾98.9

$28.10 TZS 73.9K

34.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₾25.43

$9.12 TZS 24.0K

6.80%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.91

$1.78 TZS 4,680

91.57%

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

$1.06 ₾2.77

$0.90 TZS 2,377

17.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$0.30 TZS 800

116.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₾7.06

$1.04 TZS 2,734

159.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ₾8.09

$2.79 TZS 7,348

11.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₾5.74

$0.97 TZS 2,552

126.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₾2.10

$0.65 TZS 1,706

24.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$1.65 TZS 4,347

-0.61%

Eggs

$2.75 ₾7.19

$1.67 TZS 4,387

64.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 ₾23.52

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 ₾17.10

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ₾32.94

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₾4.36

$2.22 TZS 5,832

-24.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₾4.73

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₾5.04

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 ₾6.76

$0.72 TZS 1,900

259.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.26

$0.49 TZS 1,276

77.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$1.07 TZS 2,810

-39.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₾3.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.08

$0.85 TZS 2,242

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.78

$1.55 TZS 4,077

116.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₾19.68

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₾4.21

$0.93 TZS 2,442

73.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.86

$1.00 TZS 2,619

125.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$0.18 TZS 481

105.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.11 ₾39.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₾2.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 ₾29.58

$7.63 TZS 20.1K

48.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.47

$1.29 TZS 3,387

3.10%

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

$25.0K ₾65.2K

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

$22.4K ₾58.4K

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

$89.1 ₾233

$28.92 TZS 76.0K

208.13%

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

$13.25 ₾34.58

$8.68 TZS 22.8K

52.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₾50.8

$48.20 TZS 126.7K

-59.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 ₾179

$64.7 TZS 170.1K

5.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 ₾48.77

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 ₾17.32

$4.67 TZS 12.3K

41.97%

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

$363 ₾949

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$7,465 TZS 19.6M

42.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾270

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 ₾101

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾304

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,782

$288 TZS 757.7K

136.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₾1,166

$232 TZS 609.7K

92.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 ₾3,353

$489 TZS 1.3M

162.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ₾2,401

$515 TZS 1.4M

78.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,487 ₾6,492

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 ₾3,715

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₾1,686

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arusha: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $288 in Arusha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $28.00 in Arusha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $65.0 – making Arusha 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

Tbilisi vs Arusha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi, $562 in Arusha – roughly 129% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $842 in Arusha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arusha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $28.00 in Arusha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,286 in Tbilisi and $562 in Arusha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arusha, where all-in costs run around $562, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In Arusha 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 $562 in Arusha to $1,286 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 Arusha. 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.