😐A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $749 in Mbabane, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,156 in Mbabane, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,564 in Mbabane, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 59% more than Mbabane, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Mbabane are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi11% lower, Mbabane44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$2.96SZL 48.78
268.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$29.27SZL 482
47.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$2.37SZL 38.97
259.92%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$1.94SZL 31.94
54.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$0.90SZL 14.79
-10.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.54SZL 8.96
-22.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$1.70SZL 27.97
27.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$1.69SZL 27.86
70.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.04SZL 17.11
86.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.78SZL 12.79
-12.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$1.24SZL 20.35
49.19%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$1.69SZL 27.91
49.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$8.99SZL 148
-16.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$4.96SZL 81.7
26.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$5.19SZL 85.6
84.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$1.52SZL 25.08
-23.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$0.75SZL 12.44
118.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$0.97SZL 15.91
93.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$1.35SZL 22.21
65.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$1.05SZL 17.31
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$1.24SZL 20.37
-48.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$0.53SZL 8.67
122.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.72SZL 11.78
-2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$2.54SZL 41.80
16.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$5.85SZL 96.3
27.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$1.50SZL 24.73
2.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$1.42SZL 23.39
60.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$1.15SZL 18.93
-68.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
$28.86SZL 475
-48.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$3.41SZL 56.3
-58.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$2.78SZL 45.84
-75.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$3.34SZL 54.9
117.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.18SZL 19.52
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$16.5KSZL 271.8K
11.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$21.2KSZL 349.6K
-3.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$75.2SZL 1,238
-1.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$35.66SZL 587
-67.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$28.16SZL 464
-37.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$27.75SZL 457
117.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
$5.06SZL 83.4
221.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$3.70SZL 61.0
75.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$106SZL 1,748
153.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$4,585SZL 75.5K
12.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$44.34SZL 730
73.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$23.06SZL 380
88.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$71.4SZL 1,177
65.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$81.8SZL 1,347
37.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$261SZL 4,307
171.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$180SZL 2,972
157.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$507SZL 8,344
159.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$377SZL 6,212
103.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
$482SZL 7,936
417.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
$362SZL 5,970
297.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Mbabane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$656SZL 10.8K
0.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
11.62
2.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Last update for Mbabane: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $709 in Tbilisi versus $261 in Mbabane. 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 1% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $29.00 in Mbabane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $158 – making Mbabane 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 Mbabane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Mbabane?
Tbilisi costs about 59% more than Mbabane, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Mbabane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $1,123 in Mbabane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Mbabane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mbabane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Mbabane?
Public transport costs about 96% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Mbabane?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $106 in Mbabane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Mbabane?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mbabane, where all-in costs run around $749, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Mbabane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Mbabane?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mbabane costs $749 versus $1,191 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Mbabane?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or to Mbabane?
If budget matters most, go with Mbabane. 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.