😐A single person spends $1,178 per month in Tbilisi vs $779 in Bulawayo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,848 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,273 in Bulawayo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,518 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,767 in Bulawayo, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 51% more than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Tbilisi and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi12% lower, Bulawayo42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09₾29.35
$4.41ZWL 118
151.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24₾114
$29.71ZWL 793
45.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.55₾22.63
$5.45ZWL 146
56.88%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.86
$2.43ZWL 65.0
22.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.01
$0.52ZWL 13.87
46.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.40ZWL 10.79
15.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22₾5.88
$1.70ZWL 45.31
30.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.73
$2.51ZWL 67.1
16.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97₾5.21
$1.56ZWL 41.66
26.28%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.94
$1.00ZWL 26.73
-27.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82₾4.81
$1.80ZWL 47.95
1.11%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.60
$1.75ZWL 46.63
42.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66₾20.27
$10.13ZWL 270
-24.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27₾16.59
$3.94ZWL 105
59.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50₾25.14
$4.30ZWL 115
120.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23₾3.24
$1.51ZWL 40.35
-18.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.33
$1.49ZWL 39.77
10.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.95
$2.21ZWL 58.9
-15.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₾6.02
$1.12ZWL 29.89
102.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₾1.77
$1.20ZWL 31.93
-44.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.39ZWL 37.09
-51.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₾3.23
$1.02ZWL 27.10
19.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.85
$1.04ZWL 27.88
-32.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.73
$1.54ZWL 41.22
89.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72₾20.42
$5.13ZWL 137
50.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.09
$1.49ZWL 39.86
4.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22₾5.86
$2.22ZWL 59.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$0.52ZWL 13.81
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.67₾38.81
$29.74ZWL 794
-50.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44₾3.82
$2.94ZWL 78.5
-51.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$2.19ZWL 58.5
-68.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37₾19.52
$5.15ZWL 137
43.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.03
$1.67ZWL 44.49
-31.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K₾48.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K₾54.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.6₾195
$70.7ZWL 1,887
4.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.80
$18.27ZWL 488
-36.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63₾46.65
$131ZWL 3,503
-86.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.4₾162
$24.62ZWL 657
149.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85₾44.59
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.69₾17.71
$9.90ZWL 264
-32.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾699
$141ZWL 3,772
86.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,169₾13.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1₾199
$21.82ZWL 583
244.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26₾114
$13.54ZWL 361
219.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾311
$67.4ZWL 1,800
74.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾295
$55.1ZWL 1,471
102.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706₾1,868
$183ZWL 4,871
286.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461₾1,221
$109ZWL 2,897
325.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318₾3,488
$463ZWL 12.4K
184.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781₾2,066
$418ZWL 11.1K
86.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,463₾6,517
$2,088ZWL 55.7K
17.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,409₾3,727
$2,069ZWL 55.2K
-31.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$672₾1,779
$305ZWL 8,145
120.32%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Bulawayo: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $706 in Tbilisi versus $183 in Bulawayo. 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 120% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $30.00 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $179 – making Bulawayo 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 Bulawayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bulawayo cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,767 per month in Tbilisi and $1,168 in Bulawayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulawayo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Bulawayo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,178 in Tbilisi and $779 in Bulawayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 103% less in Bulawayo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Bulawayo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bulawayo, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Tbilisi at $1,178. In Bulawayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Bulawayo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bulawayo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Bulawayo?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bulawayo. 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.