Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bulawayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bulawayo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,255 per month in Tbilisi vs $770 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,985 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,219 in Bulawayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,715 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,669 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 63% more than Bulawayo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 8% lower, Bulawayo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.44 ₾29.81

$4.47 ZWL 119

155.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.74 ₾101

$30.49 ZWL 810

27.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.82

$5.08 ZWL 135

87.40%

Cappuccino

$3.37 ₾8.79

$2.14 ZWL 56.8

57.48%

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

$1.12 ₾2.92

$0.48 ZWL 12.73

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.57

$0.37 ZWL 9.77

62.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 ₾7.33

$1.53 ZWL 40.65

83.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 ₾9.75

$2.02 ZWL 53.7

85.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₾5.90

$1.66 ZWL 44.05

36.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.06

$0.98 ZWL 26.06

-19.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 ₾4.48

$1.55 ZWL 41.07

10.97%

Eggs

$2.73 ₾7.12

$1.92 ZWL 51.1

42.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 ₾25.25

$9.73 ZWL 258

-0.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 ₾17.52

$4.03 ZWL 107

66.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.91 ₾33.67

$4.46 ZWL 119

189.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.23

$1.88 ZWL 49.93

-13.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.68

$1.55 ZWL 41.23

16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₾5.12

$2.54 ZWL 67.4

-22.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.56 ₾6.67

$1.05 ZWL 27.87

143.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₾2.06

$1.22 ZWL 32.49

-35.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 ₾1.63

$1.42 ZWL 37.69

-56.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.14 ZWL 30.31

21.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₾2.06

$0.80 ZWL 21.29

-1.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ₾9.10

$1.46 ZWL 38.75

139.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.50 ₾19.54

$5.11 ZWL 136

46.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₾4.13

$1.37 ZWL 36.27

15.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₾6.07

$1.82 ZWL 48.47

28.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$0.73 ZWL 19.37

-49.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.15 ₾39.50

$30.45 ZWL 809

-50.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.04

$3.08 ZWL 82.0

-62.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.91

$2.02 ZWL 53.6

-63.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.59 ₾30.22

$4.93 ZWL 131

135.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₾3.42

$1.68 ZWL 44.71

-22.02%

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

$24.9K ₾65.0K

$24.6K ZWL 653.8K

1.33%

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

$21.9K ₾57.1K

$25.2K ZWL 669.4K

-13.01%

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

$87.4 ₾228

$92.9 ZWL 2,468

-5.92%

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

$13.38 ₾34.88

$17.59 ZWL 467

-23.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.75 ₾51.5

$109 ZWL 2,898

-81.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.6 ₾174

$31.45 ZWL 836

111.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.91 ₾49.30

$20.33 ZWL 540

-6.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 ₾18.13

$10.14 ZWL 269

-31.36%

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

$356 ₾927

$230 ZWL 6,099

54.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₾27.3K

$3,495 ZWL 92.9K

199.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₾269

$21.42 ZWL 569

380.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.91 ₾101

$11.72 ZWL 311

232.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾305

$46.59 ZWL 1,238

151.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

$58.0 ZWL 1,540

111.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$689 ₾1,798

$176 ZWL 4,675

291.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₾1,174

$108 ZWL 2,858

318.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 ₾3,451

$405 ZWL 10.8K

227.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$871 ₾2,271

$314 ZWL 8,343

177.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,466 ₾6,429

$2,117 ZWL 56.3K

16.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,476 ₾3,848

$2,063 ZWL 54.8K

-28.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$649 ₾1,691

$295 ZWL 7,831

120.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

-15.13%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 8, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: August 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $689 in Tbilisi versus $176 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $30.00 in Bulawayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $178 – 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

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 63%, 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 $1,883 per month in Tbilisi and $1,155 in Bulawayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,255 in Tbilisi and $770 in Bulawayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 101% less in Bulawayo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bulawayo, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Tbilisi at $1,255. In Bulawayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.