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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,178 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 – Tbilisi 12% lower, Bulawayo 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09 ₾29.35
$4.41 ZWL 118
151.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.24 ₾114
$29.71 ZWL 793
45.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ₾22.63
$5.45 ZWL 146
56.88%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.86
$2.43 ZWL 65.0
22.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.01
$0.52 ZWL 13.87
46.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.40 ZWL 10.79
15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 ₾5.88
$1.70 ZWL 45.31
30.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.73
$2.51 ZWL 67.1
16.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₾5.21
$1.56 ZWL 41.66
26.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.94
$1.00 ZWL 26.73
-27.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.81
$1.80 ZWL 47.95
1.11%
Eggs
$2.49 ₾6.60
$1.75 ZWL 46.63
42.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.66 ₾20.27
$10.13 ZWL 270
-24.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 ₾16.59
$3.94 ZWL 105
59.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.50 ₾25.14
$4.30 ZWL 115
120.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 ₾3.24
$1.51 ZWL 40.35
-18.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.33
$1.49 ZWL 39.77
10.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.95
$2.21 ZWL 58.9
-15.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₾6.02
$1.12 ZWL 29.89
102.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.77
$1.20 ZWL 31.93
-44.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.39 ZWL 37.09
-51.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 ₾3.23
$1.02 ZWL 27.10
19.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.85
$1.04 ZWL 27.88
-32.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.73
$1.54 ZWL 41.22
89.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.72 ₾20.42
$5.13 ZWL 137
50.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.09
$1.49 ZWL 39.86
4.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₾5.86
$2.22 ZWL 59.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$0.52 ZWL 13.81
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.67 ₾38.81
$29.74 ZWL 794
-50.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ₾3.82
$2.94 ZWL 78.5
-51.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$2.19 ZWL 58.5
-68.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.37 ₾19.52
$5.15 ZWL 137
43.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.03
$1.67 ZWL 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
$70.7 ZWL 1,887
4.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.80
$18.27 ZWL 488
-36.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63 ₾46.65
$131 ZWL 3,503
-86.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 ₾162
$24.62 ZWL 657
149.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85 ₾44.59
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 ₾17.71
$9.90 ZWL 264
-32.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾699
$141 ZWL 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
$21.82 ZWL 583
244.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26 ₾114
$13.54 ZWL 361
219.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾311
$67.4 ZWL 1,800
74.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾295
$55.1 ZWL 1,471
102.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$706 ₾1,868
$183 ZWL 4,871
286.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,221
$109 ZWL 2,897
325.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,318 ₾3,488
$463 ZWL 12.4K
184.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$781 ₾2,066
$418 ZWL 11.1K
86.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,463 ₾6,517
$2,088 ZWL 55.7K
17.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,409 ₾3,727
$2,069 ZWL 55.2K
-31.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bulawayo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$672 ₾1,779
$305 ZWL 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.

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