Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bamako Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bamako

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,187 in Tbilisi versus $915 in Bamako.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,826 in Tbilisi versus $1,501 in Bamako.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $2,087 in Bamako.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 30% more expensive than in Bamako, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Bamako 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.79 ₾28.26
$6.52 F CFA 3,756
65.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.24 ₾116
$37.86 F CFA 21.8K
16.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.40 ₾21.98
$6.38 F CFA 3,676
31.66%
Cappuccino
$2.98 ₾7.80
$1.86 F CFA 1,071
60.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₾1.97
$0.74 F CFA 429
1.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.10
$0.57 F CFA 326
-26.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ₾5.78
$2.43 F CFA 1,398
-9.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.87
$20.98 F CFA 12.1K
-85.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 ₾5.25
$2.27 F CFA 1,310
-11.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$3.92 F CFA 2,259
-82.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.73
-
-
Eggs
$2.59 ₾6.79
$6.79 F CFA 3,914
-61.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$17.61 F CFA 10.1K
-57.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.20 ₾16.24
$15.62 F CFA 9,006
-60.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.55 ₾25.02
$12.43 F CFA 7,164
-23.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.20
$3.95 F CFA 2,275
-69.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.31
$1.02 F CFA 589
61.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.91
$2.84 F CFA 1,640
-33.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.09
$2.16 F CFA 1,246
7.87%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.35 F CFA 777
-51.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.69
$1.37 F CFA 788
-53.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 ₾3.24
$0.11 F CFA 65.7
1027.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.71
$2.72 F CFA 1,571
-76.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 ₾8.04
$0.97 F CFA 557
216.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.74 ₾20.26
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₾4.18
$1.54 F CFA 890
3.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 ₾5.86
$1.66 F CFA 958
34.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₾0.92
$4.76 F CFA 2,746
-92.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.56
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.22 F CFA 703
-42.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.52 ₾19.68
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.01
$1.15 F CFA 662
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾47.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K ₾52.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.2 ₾194
$150 F CFA 86.2K
-50.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.85 ₾31.04
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.14 ₾47.49
$57.6 F CFA 33.2K
-68.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾162
$67.9 F CFA 39.2K
-9.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.91 ₾44.28
$3.99 F CFA 2,298
323.81%
Cinema Ticket
$6.53 ₾17.11
$5.74 F CFA 3,308
13.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾691
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,079 ₾13.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2 ₾202
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.11 ₾116
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾313
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$707 ₾1,851
$175 F CFA 100.7K
304.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,206
$79.4 F CFA 45.8K
480.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 ₾3,530
$405 F CFA 233.3K
233.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$783 ₾2,050
$295 F CFA 170.2K
165.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,423 ₾6,345
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,480 ₾3,876
$1,244 F CFA 717.2K
18.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bamako
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$662 ₾1,733
$264 F CFA 152.5K
150.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
0
-

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 21, 2026

Last update for Bamako: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $707 in Tbilisi and $175 in Bamako. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 150% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $38.00 in Bamako. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $356, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bamako: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Bamako?
Bamako wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bamako the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Bamako?
Average pay runs 150% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Bamako?
Rent for a central apartment: $707 in Tbilisi versus $175 in Bamako. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Bamako?
All in, you'll spend $1,187 per month in Tbilisi versus $915 in Bamako – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Bamako?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 73% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Bamako?
At $915 in Bamako versus $1,187 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bamako but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Bamako the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Bamako?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bamako delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $915 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bamako hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Bamako?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Bamako are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bamako gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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