Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Knysna

For one person, living is cheaper in Knysna: $1,198 a month against $1,270 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $860 less a year. The total is higher in Tbilisi despite lower rent and utilities.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,270
/mo nomad
Knysna
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,198
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Knysna

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 Knysna actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,198 in Knysna, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,270
  • Knysna $1,198

A couple spends around $2,008 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,788 in Knysna, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,008
  • Knysna $1,788

A family of three spends $2,745 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,379 in Knysna, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,745
  • Knysna $2,379

Tbilisi costs about 6% more than Knysna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Tbilisi and Knysna are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Knysna 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51 ₾29.79
$9.64 R 159
19.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 ₾99.1
$39.13 R 645
-2.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 ₾25.36
$5.73 R 94.5
71.03%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₾9.19
$2.11 R 34.70
68.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.74
$1.07 R 17.57
-0.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₾1.60
$0.72 R 11.84
-13.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ₾7.16
$2.34 R 38.49
17.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.77
$2.78 R 45.75
7.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ₾5.59
$1.19 R 19.58
81.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₾1.96
$1.07 R 17.57
-28.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.47 R 24.27
18.37%
Eggs
$2.79 ₾7.21
$2.81 R 46.24
-0.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 ₾23.83
$8.66 R 143
6.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 ₾16.89
$4.90 R 80.8
33.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 ₾33.17
$8.09 R 133
58.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$1.59 R 26.22
5.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.54 R 25.32
20.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ₾5.13
$1.60 R 26.39
23.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 ₾6.49
$1.55 R 25.53
61.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.26
$1.60 R 26.33
-45.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ₾1.89
$1.39 R 22.83
-47.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₾3.67
$1.28 R 21.02
10.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.88
$1.03 R 17.00
-30.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₾8.74
$3.24 R 53.5
4.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₾20.31
$4.97 R 81.9
57.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₾4.19
$1.21 R 19.91
33.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.15
$1.54 R 25.44
54.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$1.49 R 24.49
-75.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.52 ₾40.16
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.94
$0.62 R 10.21
83.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.56 R 9.30
41.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.57 ₾29.96
$8.34 R 137
38.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₾3.87
$1.41 R 23.22
6.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.7K
$23.6K R 388.8K
4.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾57.9K
$27.7K R 455.9K
-19.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 ₾228
$113 R 1,855
-21.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 ₾33.86
$33.83 R 557
-61.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 ₾50.6
$44.58 R 735
-56.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 ₾166
$48.38 R 797
32.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 ₾49.66
$9.84 R 162
94.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.99 ₾18.10
$8.76 R 144
-20.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$373 ₾966
$182 R 3,001
104.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$5,898 R 97.2K
81.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₾266
$42.18 R 695
143.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 ₾105
$33.77 R 556
19.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₾301
$107 R 1,770
8.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾316
$77.4 R 1,275
57.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₾1,753
$514 R 8,462
31.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,176
$480 R 7,912
-5.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 ₾3,305
$837 R 13.8K
52.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,304
$799 R 13.2K
11.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 ₾6,238
$1,001 R 16.5K
140.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 ₾3,670
$1,056 R 17.4K
34.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Knysna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ₾1,819
$942 R 15.5K
-25.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
11.83
6.68%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 17, 2026

Last update for Knysna: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$454
Knysna
$480 5.7% $26
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$233
Knysna
$190 18.5% $43
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Knysna
$144 24.4% $47
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Knysna
$117 31.6% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Knysna
$191 58% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Knysna
$66 15.7% $12
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Knysna
$9.4 * 57.5% $13

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $677 in Tbilisi versus $514 in Knysna. 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 34% higher in Knysna, 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 $39.00 in Knysna. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in Tbilisi vs $190 in Knysna – so Knysna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇿🇦 Knysna
🕒 Local time
17:56 5:56 PM
15:56 3:56 PM
2 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
51,078
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 22, 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 22, 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 Knysna 8,710 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Knysna

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 Knysna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Knysna cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 6%, 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 $1,797 in Knysna. 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 Knysna, 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 Knysna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,270 in Tbilisi and $1,198 in Knysna. That's a gap of about 6%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $373 per month in Tbilisi and $182 in Knysna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Knysna?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Knysna, where all-in costs run around $1,198, than in Tbilisi at $1,270. In Knysna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Knysna more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Knysna – 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 Knysna?
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 Knysna. 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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