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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,117 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,556 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,995 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 8% more than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Lubumbashi 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

$12.46 CDF 28.3K

-13.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$98.3 CDF 223.2K

-56.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$9.91 CDF 22.5K

-16.35%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

$3.98 CDF 9,031

-24.62%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.97 CDF 2,209

-15.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.77 CDF 4,012

25.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$2.47 CDF 5,600

18.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$2.01 CDF 4,570

-3.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$1.15 CDF 2,618

-40.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$2.92 CDF 6,628

-35.62%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$2.63 CDF 5,972

-3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$15.22 CDF 34.5K

-51.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

$7.35 CDF 16.7K

-15.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

$15.54 CDF 35.3K

-39.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$2.01 CDF 4,573

-39.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$2.95 CDF 6,687

-43.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$5.11 CDF 11.6K

-64.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$2.94 CDF 6,677

-23.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$2.46 CDF 5,581

-71.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.95 CDF 4,431

-65.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$0.99 CDF 2,244

19.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$1.27 CDF 2,881

-48.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$4.03 CDF 9,146

-26.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

$12.68 CDF 28.8K

-39.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.20 CDF 2,730

28.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

$2.08 CDF 4,724

8.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.98 CDF 2,233

-63.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

$4.46 CDF 10.1K

-66.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

$9.82 CDF 22.3K

-26.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.36 CDF 3,084

-16.18%

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

$24.7K CDF 56.1M

-25.29%

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

$20.0K ₾53.1K

$29.5K CDF 66.9M

-32.23%

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

$73.7 ₾196

$98.9 CDF 224.5K

-25.50%

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

$11.64 ₾30.92

$20.35 CDF 46.2K

-42.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

$59.4 CDF 134.8K

-69.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$72.2 CDF 164.0K

-16.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

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

$266 ₾708

$132 CDF 299.9K

101.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$4,465 CDF 10.1M

16.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$22.38 CDF 50.8K

247.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$22.32 CDF 50.7K

100.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$60.5 CDF 137.3K

93.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$84.3 CDF 191.4K

33.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

$764 CDF 1.7M

-9.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

$249 CDF 565.0K

85.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

$2,858 CDF 6.5M

-53.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

$1,813 CDF 4.1M

-57.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

$988 CDF 2.2M

145.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

$502 CDF 1.1M

187.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

$1,068 CDF 2.4M

-37.03%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $764 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 59% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $98.0 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $312 – 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: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $1,117 in Lubumbashi – roughly 8% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,676 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 $1,209 in Tbilisi and $1,117 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $266 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 $1,117, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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 $1,117 in Lubumbashi to $1,209 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.