Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Boksburg

For one person, living costs are similar in Tbilisi and in Boksburg: $1,266 and $1,222 a month, rent and utilities included.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Boksburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,222
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Boksburg

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Boksburg actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Tbilisi versus $1,222 in Boksburg.

  • Tbilisi $1,266
  • Boksburg $1,222

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,007 in Tbilisi versus $1,891 in Boksburg.

  • Tbilisi $2,007
  • Boksburg $1,891

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,749 in Tbilisi versus $2,560 in Boksburg.

  • Tbilisi $2,749
  • Boksburg $2,560

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 4% more expensive than in Boksburg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 6% lower, Boksburg 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34 ₾29.35
$12.15 R 200
-6.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.05 ₾101
$43.01 R 709
-9.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 ₾24.92
$5.40 R 88.9
78.33%
Cappuccino
$3.46 ₾8.95
$2.28 R 37.62
51.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₾2.82
$1.13 R 18.66
-3.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.62
$0.83 R 13.69
-24.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 ₾7.17
$2.25 R 37.09
23.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.04
$2.74 R 45.13
13.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 ₾5.81
$1.35 R 22.26
66.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$1.18 R 19.48
-32.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 ₾4.55
$1.77 R 29.15
-0.56%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.11
$2.73 R 44.99
0.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 ₾24.32
$8.89 R 146
5.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.66 ₾17.23
$5.32 R 87.6
25.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.92 ₾33.45
$8.86 R 146
45.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$1.82 R 30.01
-8.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.65
$1.62 R 26.74
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 ₾4.97
$1.86 R 30.72
3.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 ₾6.24
$1.79 R 29.43
34.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ₾2.23
$1.68 R 27.66
-48.81%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ₾1.80
$1.81 R 29.80
-61.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$1.23 R 20.33
13.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$1.34 R 22.06
-47.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$3.38 R 55.6
3.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾19.69
$6.03 R 99.4
26.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₾4.21
$1.53 R 25.14
6.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾5.98
$1.89 R 31.20
22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.67 ₾40.57
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.95
$0.31 R 5.14
267.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.78 R 12.77
1.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.86 ₾30.70
$14.54 R 240
-18.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$1.49 R 24.52
-6.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ₾64.2K
$36.3K R 597.3K
-31.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K ₾56.6K
$33.7K R 554.6K
-35.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾231
$231 R 3,808
-61.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.21 ₾34.19
$38.32 R 631
-65.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.76 ₾51.1
$36.44 R 600
-45.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 ₾168
$28.26 R 466
129.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02 ₾49.24
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 ₾17.02
$7.92 R 131
-17.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾975
$243 R 4,006
54.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾27.9K
$5,427 R 89.4K
98.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$53.8 R 886
89.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70 ₾103
$46.03 R 758
-13.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$104 R 1,721
12.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$106 R 1,741
16.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$666 ₾1,724
$321 R 5,287
107.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₾1,163
$352 R 5,793
27.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,324
$674 R 11.1K
90.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,303
$764 R 12.6K
16.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,425 ₾6,276
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,380 ₾3,573
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Boksburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$680 ₾1,760
$873 R 14.4K
-22.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
10.91
15.67%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Last update for Boksburg: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$449
Boksburg
$352 21.7% $98
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$234
Boksburg
$212 9.5% $22
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$188
Boksburg
$165 12% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Boksburg
$140 19.1% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$122
Boksburg
$306 151% $184
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Boksburg
$44 43.5% $34
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Boksburg
$4.2 * 81.2% $18

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Tbilisi and $321 in Boksburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boksburg pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $43.00 in Boksburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $212, with Boksburg cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇿🇦 Boksburg
🕒 Local time
11:59 11:59 AM
09:59 9:59 AM
2 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
260,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Boksburg 7,740 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Boksburg

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Boksburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Boksburg?
Tbilisi and Boksburg differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,266 vs $1,222 including rent). Boksburg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Boksburg. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Boksburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $666 in Tbilisi versus $321 in Boksburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Boksburg?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,222 in Boksburg – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,222 in Boksburg versus $1,266 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Boksburg but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Boksburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Boksburg?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Boksburg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Boksburg are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Boksburg?
Expats usually find Boksburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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