Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $343 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $580 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $817 in Chingola.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 255% more expensive than Chingola, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Chingola 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$12.27 ZMW 215

-11.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$20.70 ZMW 362

113.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

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

$0.76 ₾2.02

$0.40 ZMW 6.99

90.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.30 ZMW 5.31

53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$0.48 ZMW 8.32

366.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$1.06 ZMW 18.60

183.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.00 ZMW 17.45

93.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$0.81 ZMW 14.08

-11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$2.12 ZMW 37.01

-13.21%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$1.10 ZMW 19.20

122.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$2.12 ZMW 36.99

205.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$3.72 ZMW 64.9

160.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$1.63 ZMW 28.49

-26.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$1.62 ZMW 28.35

-3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

$1.64 ZMW 28.63

9.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$1.62 ZMW 28.37

37.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$2.56 ZMW 44.72

-74.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

$1.22 ZMW 21.36

-44.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.70 ZMW 12.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

$1.26 ZMW 22.08

134.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$5.58 ZMW 97.5

31.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$0.52 ZMW 9.05

192.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$0.64 ZMW 11.14

251.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

$0.42 ZMW 7.29

73.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

$8.06 ZMW 141

-7.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$1.23 ZMW 21.54

-7.32%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

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

$20.3K ₾53.6K

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

$73.9 ₾196

$41.81 ZMW 731

76.70%

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

$11.71 ₾31.01

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

$8.51 ZMW 149

625.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

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

$264 ₾700

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

$16.57 ZMW 290

351.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$10.29 ZMW 180

327.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$41.41 ZMW 724

184.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$62.2 ZMW 1,088

82.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

$17.3K ZMW 301.7K

-91.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

$125 ZMW 2,189

415.16%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Chingola: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tbilisi pays 415% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $119 per month, with Chingola cheaper across the board.

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 Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chingola is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 255% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Tbilisi pays 415% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 72% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $343 in Chingola versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chingola but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Chingola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chingola is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Chingola 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 Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 255% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.