Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Busia Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Busia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $81.6 in Busia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $133 in Busia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $184 in Busia.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 1360% more expensive than in Busia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Busia 94% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$0.32 UGX 1,188

506.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$1.36 UGX 5,107

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$1.63 UGX 6,118

55.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$4.08 UGX 15.3K

135.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$2.86 UGX 10.7K

-59.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$0.84 UGX 3,163

165.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$1.71 UGX 6,391

-62.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.29 UGX 1,091

141.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

$1.23 UGX 4,603

141.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$5.20 UGX 19.5K

42.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$1.09 UGX 4,097

41.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$1.35 UGX 5,063

68.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

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

$74.4 ₾195

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

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

$269 ₾704

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Busia: July 26, 2026

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 Busia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busia wins on cost – living expenses run 1360% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,787 in Tbilisi and $122 in Busia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 157% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $81.6 in Busia – a 1360% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $81.6 in Busia versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busia but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Busia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Busia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $81.6 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Busia hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Busia 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 Busia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1360% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.