Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lubumbashi Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Lubumbashi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,094 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,546 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,999 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 9% more than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Lubumbashi 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.38

$12.29 CDF 27.6K

-11.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

$102 CDF 228.3K

-56.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$10.08 CDF 22.7K

-17.56%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$4.09 CDF 9,181

-27.38%

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

$0.99 CDF 2,220

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$1.79 CDF 4,013

19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$2.44 CDF 5,492

17.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$2.04 CDF 4,574

-6.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$1.15 CDF 2,573

-38.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$3.03 CDF 6,818

-36.96%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$2.63 CDF 5,902

-5.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$15.26 CDF 34.3K

-49.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$7.31 CDF 16.4K

-15.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$15.21 CDF 34.2K

-37.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$2.05 CDF 4,606

-42.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$2.92 CDF 6,562

-43.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$5.03 CDF 11.3K

-63.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$2.98 CDF 6,684

-21.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$2.57 CDF 5,785

-72.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$1.94 CDF 4,359

-65.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$1.02 CDF 2,302

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$1.24 CDF 2,780

-46.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$3.92 CDF 8,810

-25.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

$12.73 CDF 28.6K

-39.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$1.14 CDF 2,552

39.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

$2.07 CDF 4,658

11.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$1.03 CDF 2,310

-63.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

$4.62 CDF 10.4K

-67.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

$9.96 CDF 22.4K

-27.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.35 CDF 3,039

-19.26%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

$25.2K CDF 56.6M

-26.16%

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

$30.4K CDF 68.2M

-32.59%

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

$73.0 ₾191

$102 CDF 228.1K

-28.10%

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

$19.84 CDF 44.6K

-39.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

$60.7 CDF 136.3K

-70.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$72.6 CDF 163.1K

-15.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

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

$269 ₾705

$132 CDF 297.2K

103.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

$4,420 CDF 9.9M

16.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$22.87 CDF 51.4K

234.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

$22.64 CDF 50.9K

91.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

$60.0 CDF 134.8K

100.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$84.2 CDF 189.1K

31.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$773 CDF 1.7M

-11.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$251 CDF 564.3K

87.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$2,921 CDF 6.6M

-53.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$1,773 CDF 4.0M

-55.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

$1,013 CDF 2.3M

143.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

$501 CDF 1.1M

190.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$1,072 CDF 2.4M

-38.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $773 in Lubumbashi. 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 63% higher in Lubumbashi, 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $102 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $311 – making Tbilisi 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 Lubumbashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi, $1,094 in Lubumbashi – roughly 9% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,641 in Lubumbashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Tbilisi and $1,094 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $132 in Lubumbashi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lubumbashi, where all-in costs run around $1,094, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Lubumbashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,094 in Lubumbashi to $1,197 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Lubumbashi. 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.