Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kimberley

For one person, living is cheaper in Kimberley: $1,138 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Kimberley
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,138
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Kimberley

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Kimberley actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,128 in Kimberley, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Kimberley $1,128

A couple spends around $2,008 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,905 in Kimberley, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Kimberley $1,905

A family of three spends $2,745 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,683 in Kimberley, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Kimberley $2,683

Tbilisi costs about 13% more than Kimberley, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Tbilisi and Kimberley are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Kimberley 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$12.12 R 200
-5.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$36.35 R 599
5.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$6.22 R 103
57.56%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$2.99 R 49.32
18.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$1.29 R 21.17
-17.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$1.30 R 21.49
-52.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$2.79 R 45.92
-1.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$2.67 R 44.00
12.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.55 R 25.50
39.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$1.16 R 19.03
-34.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$2.94 R 48.49
-40.82%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$2.91 R 48.01
-4.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$6.52 R 107
41.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$5.89 R 97.0
10.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$8.33 R 137
53.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$2.35 R 38.64
-28.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$2.44 R 40.25
-24.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.78 R 29.25
11.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$3.34 R 55.0
-24.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.52 R 24.99
-42.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$1.41 R 23.18
-48.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$1.39 R 22.85
2.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$0.90 R 14.76
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$3.28 R 54.0
3.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$6.56 R 108
19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$2.30 R 37.83
-29.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$2.87 R 47.29
-17.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$1.53 R 25.15
-75.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
$33.18 R 547
-53.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$0.58 R 9.55
96.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.82 R 13.51
-3.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$13.15 R 217
-12.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.45 R 23.81
3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$37.5K R 617.3K
-34.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$38.3K R 630.5K
-41.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$108 R 1,772
-17.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$35.15 R 579
-62.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$42.40 R 699
-53.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$22.40 R 369
186.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$10.56 R 174
81.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$7.16 R 118
-2.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$242 R 3,981
54.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$6,107 R 100.6K
75.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$54.5 R 897
88.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$30.14 R 497
34.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$101 R 1,669
14.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$90.8 R 1,495
34.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$263 R 4,329
157.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$338 R 5,574
34.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$645 R 10.6K
98.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$928 R 15.3K
-4.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$806 R 13.3K
198.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$619 R 10.2K
129.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kimberley
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
$949 R 15.6K
-25.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
10.94
15.36%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Kimberley: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Kimberley
$338 25.5% $116
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Kimberley
$229 1.8% $4.2
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Kimberley
$181 4.9% $9.3
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Kimberley
$124 27.5% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Kimberley
$185 53.2% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Kimberley
$37 53% $41
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Kimberley
$44 98.9% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $677 in Tbilisi versus $266 in Kimberley. 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 33% higher in Kimberley, 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $36.00 in Kimberley. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $228 – making Kimberley the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇿🇦 Kimberley
🕒 Local time
14:24 2:24 PM
12:24 12:24 PM
2 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
225,160
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Kimberley 8,100 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Kimberley

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kimberley: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kimberley cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 13%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Tbilisi and $1,692 in Kimberley. 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 Kimberley, 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 Kimberley?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,270 in Tbilisi and $1,128 in Kimberley. That's a gap of about 13%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 115% less in Kimberley. 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 Kimberley?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kimberley, where all-in costs run around $1,128, than in Tbilisi at $1,270. In Kimberley it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Kimberley more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kimberley – 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 Kimberley?
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 Kimberley. 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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