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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $201 in Arusha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $358 in Arusha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $514 in Arusha, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 501% more than Arusha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Arusha are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Arusha 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

$3.40 TZS 8,767

217.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$27.94 TZS 72.1K

54.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$9.09 TZS 23.4K

-8.80%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

$1.70 TZS 4,382

76.47%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.43 TZS 1,113

90.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.31 TZS 799

48.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.08 TZS 2,790

106.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$2.98 TZS 7,677

-2.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$0.63 TZS 1,634

206.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$0.60 TZS 1,554

13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$0.91 TZS 2,336

106.59%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$1.70 TZS 4,384

49.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$0.79 TZS 2,027

183.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$0.41 TZS 1,048

73.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.00 TZS 2,571

-33.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$0.47 TZS 1,212

40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.19 TZS 497

89.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$1.94 TZS 4,992

-64.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

$7.50 TZS 19.3K

-3.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.23 TZS 3,184

-7.32%

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

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

$20.0K ₾53.1K

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

$73.7 ₾196

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

$11.64 ₾30.92

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

23.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

$50.3 TZS 129.7K

-64.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

$3.97 TZS 10.2K

66.25%

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

$266 ₾708

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$10.4K TZS 26.9M

-50.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

$294 TZS 759.3K

348.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arusha: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $28.00 in Arusha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $36.00 – 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: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $201 in Arusha – roughly 501% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $302 in Arusha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 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 $1,209 in Tbilisi and $201 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 $201, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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 $201 in Arusha 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 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.