Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Gaborone Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Gaborone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $826 in Gaborone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,328 in Gaborone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,830 in Gaborone.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 44% more expensive than in Gaborone, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Gaborone 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$7.27 P 96.3
50.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$29.63 P 392
45.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$6.03 P 79.8
41.46%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$2.20 P 29.08
35.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$0.84 P 11.10
-3.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$0.51 P 6.69
-17.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$2.25 P 29.81
-4.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$2.93 P 38.82
-1.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.42 P 18.78
36.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.88 P 11.62
-22.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$1.78 P 23.52
3.93%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$2.36 P 31.30
7.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$7.34 P 97.2
2.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$5.03 P 66.7
24.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$5.60 P 74.2
71.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$1.82 P 24.15
-36.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$1.44 P 19.04
13.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$1.92 P 25.43
-2.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$1.61 P 21.35
38.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.46 P 19.32
-52.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$1.21 P 15.96
-47.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$1.14 P 15.14
3.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.91 P 12.04
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$3.60 P 47.62
-17.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$4.10 P 54.3
81.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$1.65 P 21.88
-6.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$2.18 P 28.89
4.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.50 P 6.56
-28.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$30.13 P 399
-51.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$0.57 P 7.55
149.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$2.68 P 35.52
-74.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$3.03 P 40.08
139.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.14 P 15.09
-4.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$22.7K P 301.1K
-19.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$17.1K P 226.2K
19.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$70.5 P 934
5.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
$26.17 P 346
-55.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$78.6 P 1,041
-77.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$32.61 P 432
84.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
$14.67 P 194
11.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$6.80 P 90.1
-4.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$181 P 2,400
48.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$3,912 P 51.8K
31.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$42.18 P 558
82.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$24.24 P 321
79.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$75.1 P 994
57.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$97.5 P 1,291
15.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$245 P 3,244
189.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$143 P 1,893
224.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$536 P 7,101
145.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$339 P 4,492
126.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,522
$2,021 P 26.8K
23.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,773
$1,273 P 16.9K
13.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Gaborone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
$442 P 5,848
50.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
9.12
30.37%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Gaborone: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $245 in Gaborone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 50% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $30.00 in Gaborone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $180 per month, with Gaborone 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 Gaborone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gaborone cheaper than Tbilisi?
Gaborone is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Gaborone?
Average pay runs 50% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Gaborone?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $245 in Gaborone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Gaborone?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Gaborone?
Dining out is cheaper in Gaborone – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Gaborone?
At $826 in Gaborone versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gaborone but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Gaborone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Gaborone more family-friendly?
For families, Gaborone 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.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Gaborone?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Gaborone are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gaborone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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