Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Buea Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Buea

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $771 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,415 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $2,058 in Buea.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 62% more expensive than in Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Buea 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$1.78 FCFA 1,016

536.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$124 FCFA 71.1K

-68.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$6.17 FCFA 3,527

54.29%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.20 FCFA 1,257

55.00%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$1.34 FCFA 766

-22.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.52 FCFA 299

23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.08 FCFA 617

141.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$1.61 FCFA 917

101.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$2.89 FCFA 1,652

-24.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.41 FCFA 236

80.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.66 FCFA 947

3.01%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.01 FCFA 1,150

40.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$23.31 FCFA 13.3K

-60.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$7.88 FCFA 4,506

-14.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$4.45 FCFA 2,544

186.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$3.54 FCFA 2,022

-53.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.45 FCFA 827

22.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$0.91 FCFA 519

105.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.36 FCFA 775

79.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.80 FCFA 1,027

-51.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.37 FCFA 782

-52.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.75 FCFA 428

86.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.68 FCFA 387

8.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$2.61 FCFA 1,492

30.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$8.68 FCFA 4,957

-12.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.26 FCFA 723

34.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.78 FCFA 1,016

33.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.25 FCFA 143

372.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.54 FCFA 309

40.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$5.33 FCFA 3,046

112.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.20 FCFA 686

10.83%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$19.5K FCFA 11.2M

26.56%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$15.8K FCFA 9.0M

39.62%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$62.7 FCFA 35.8K

41.68%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$17.55 FCFA 10.0K

-24.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$175 FCFA 99.8K

-88.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$26.49 FCFA 15.1K

159.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

$4.37 FCFA 2,498

313.96%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$8.58 FCFA 4,905

-21.68%

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

$374 ₾971

$530 FCFA 302.9K

-29.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$3,440 FCFA 2.0M

211.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$35.15 FCFA 20.1K

187.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$69.9 FCFA 39.9K

-43.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$143 FCFA 81.8K

-17.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$71.0 FCFA 40.6K

72.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$130 FCFA 74.0K

403.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

19.04

-33.72%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Buea: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tbilisi pays 403% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $124 in Buea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $254 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

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 Buea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi and Buea differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $771 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 403% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $374 in Tbilisi versus $530 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Buea – a meal for two runs $124 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $771 in Buea versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Buea but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Buea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Buea are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Buea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.