Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Durban Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Durban

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,121 in Durban, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,782 in Durban, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,442 in Durban, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 11% more than Durban, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Durban are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Durban 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.45
$7.97 R 130
42.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$39.63 R 649
-2.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.73
$6.11 R 100
55.81%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$2.82 R 46.23
20.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$1.16 R 19.05
-10.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$0.87 R 14.17
-26.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$2.43 R 39.80
7.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$2.58 R 42.19
25.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.25 R 20.54
73.60%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$1.04 R 17.07
-28.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$1.59 R 26.03
7.55%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$2.50 R 40.92
13.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.95
$8.58 R 140
7.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$5.34 R 87.4
26.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.17
$7.08 R 116
80.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$1.93 R 31.61
-15.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$1.91 R 31.32
-7.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$1.99 R 32.65
-6.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$1.63 R 26.72
49.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$1.51 R 24.73
-42.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.47 R 24.04
-55.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.64
$1.24 R 20.39
12.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$1.22 R 20.05
-39.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$3.78 R 61.9
-9.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$5.01 R 82.1
51.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.43 R 23.50
18.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.20
$1.97 R 32.34
20.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$1.89 R 31.03
-80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.60
$22.03 R 361
-30.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$0.47 R 7.70
151.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$0.71 R 11.58
7.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.47
$7.76 R 127
46.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$1.50 R 24.63
-11.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$35.7K R 584.6K
-30.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$32.2K R 527.6K
-31.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$142 R 2,325
-37.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.63
$33.63 R 551
-60.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$39.63 R 649
-49.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$32.30 R 529
112.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾47.01
$9.25 R 151
95.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.46
$6.75 R 111
-0.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾971
$326 R 5,342
14.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$7,698 R 126.1K
38.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$55.2 R 904
83.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$30.38 R 498
29.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$101 R 1,653
16.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$87.4 R 1,431
39.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,773
$483 R 7,907
41.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$374 R 6,122
22.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,385
$825 R 13.5K
57.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,337
$789 R 12.9K
13.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,365
$890 R 14.6K
175.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,774
$581 R 9,519
149.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Durban
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,695
$1,269 R 20.8K
-48.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
11.81
6.86%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Durban: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $483 in Durban. 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 95% higher in Durban, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $40.00 in Durban. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $198 in Durban – so Durban wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Durban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durban cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,681 in Durban. 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 Durban, 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 and in Durban?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Tbilisi and $1,121 in Durban. 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 45% less in Durban. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Durban?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Durban, where all-in costs run around $1,121, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Durban it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Durban more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Durban – 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 Durban?
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 Durban. 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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