Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Gisenyi Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Gisenyi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $443 in Gisenyi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $691 in Gisenyi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $938 in Gisenyi, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 181% more than Gisenyi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Gisenyi are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Gisenyi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$2.65 RWF 3,885

327.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$15.10 RWF 22.2K

156.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$6.16 RWF 9,037

54.55%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.46 RWF 3,616

38.62%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.80 RWF 1,174

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.52 RWF 764

23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.00 RWF 1,469

161.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$1.96 RWF 2,878

65.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$0.77 RWF 1,129

181.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$1.03 RWF 1,506

-28.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.25 RWF 1,833

36.80%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.63 RWF 2,393

73.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$4.32 RWF 6,346

113.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.49 RWF 6,584

50.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$4.55 RWF 6,684

180.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$2.37 RWF 3,483

-30.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$0.88 RWF 1,287

101.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.54 RWF 2,266

21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.00 RWF 1,461

144.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.49 RWF 718

77.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.80 RWF 1,169

-18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.31 RWF 461

351.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.79 RWF 1,157

-6.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$2.08 RWF 3,058

63.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$10.23 RWF 15.0K

-25.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$0.96 RWF 1,404

77.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.58 RWF 2,321

50.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.10 RWF 150

260.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$2.70 RWF 3,958

-56.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$2.02 RWF 2,963

-62.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$3.38 RWF 4,957

235.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.78 RWF 2,612

-25.28%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$26.5K RWF 38.9M

-6.74%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$29.3K RWF 43.0M

-24.82%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$84.0 RWF 123.3K

5.74%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$2.98 RWF 4,366

347.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$21.28 RWF 31.2K

-5.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$3.44 RWF 5,046

95.35%

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

$374 ₾971

$115 RWF 168.7K

224.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$9,686 RWF 14.2M

10.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$17.50 RWF 25.7K

478.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$15.39 RWF 22.6K

155.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$21.97 RWF 32.2K

434.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$34.32 RWF 50.4K

256.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$286 RWF 419.9K

138.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$50.1 RWF 73.5K

810.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$300 RWF 440.1K

334.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$120 RWF 175.9K

650.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

16.2

-22.10%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gisenyi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $286 in Gisenyi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $15.00 in Gisenyi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $149 – making Gisenyi 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 Gisenyi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 181% more than Gisenyi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $665 in Gisenyi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gisenyi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi and $15.00 in Gisenyi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gisenyi, where all-in costs run around $443, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Gisenyi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gisenyi costs $443 versus $1,247 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gisenyi. 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.