Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bukavu Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bukavu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $760 in Bukavu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,141 in Bukavu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,521 in Bukavu, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 58% more than Bukavu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Bukavu are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Bukavu 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.38

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

71.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

61.36%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$5.12 CDF 11.5K

-41.99%

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

$1.23 CDF 2,773

-37.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$0.99 CDF 2,223

-53.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$2.20 CDF 4,932

-2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$2.99 CDF 6,711

-4.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$1.54 CDF 3,463

23.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$2.02 CDF 4,536

-64.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$1.36 CDF 3,057

40.44%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$3.88 CDF 8,723

-36.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$5.44 CDF 12.2K

42.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$4.52 CDF 10.1K

36.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$5.85 CDF 13.2K

63.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$3.90 CDF 8,752

-70.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$0.99 CDF 2,218

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$0.97 CDF 2,186

90.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$1.07 CDF 2,407

117.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$1.27 CDF 2,845

-44.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$1.99 CDF 4,470

-66.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$3.03 CDF 6,812

-60.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$2.04 CDF 4,574

-67.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$5.02 CDF 11.3K

-41.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

$15.25 CDF 34.3K

-49.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$1.97 CDF 4,429

-19.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

$1.99 CDF 4,465

16.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$0.24 CDF 536

58.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

$15.13 CDF 34.0K

-2.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

$4.09 CDF 9,189

-63.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$1.47 CDF 3,293

-53.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

$7.53 CDF 16.9K

-3.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.32 CDF 2,958

-17.42%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

$14.7K CDF 33.0M

26.53%

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

$17.2K CDF 38.7M

18.90%

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

$73.0 ₾191

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

$25.40 CDF 57.1K

-52.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$35.65 CDF 80.1K

71.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

$10.09 CDF 22.7K

63.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

$3.08 CDF 6,925

117.53%

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

$269 ₾705

$75.9 CDF 170.6K

253.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

$1,208 CDF 2.7M

326.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$39.70 CDF 89.2K

92.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

$45.26 CDF 101.7K

-4.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

$49.36 CDF 110.9K

144.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$120 CDF 269.9K

-7.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$306 CDF 687.4K

124.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$175 CDF 393.3K

168.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$498 CDF 1.1M

171.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$275 CDF 618.5K

186.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

$1,014 CDF 2.3M

143.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

$491 CDF 1.1M

196.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$502 CDF 1.1M

31.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

-0.92%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bukavu: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $306 in Bukavu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 31% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Bukavu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,140 in Bukavu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $760 in Bukavu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $75.9 in Bukavu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bukavu, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Bukavu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bukavu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Bukavu. 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.