Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mbeya Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Mbeya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $431 in Mbeya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $664 in Mbeya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $898 in Mbeya, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 199% more than Mbeya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Mbeya are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Mbeya 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 ₾30.58

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.88 ₾98.9

$22.79 TZS 59.9K

66.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₾25.43

$7.51 TZS 19.7K

29.69%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.91

$1.47 TZS 3,863

131.97%

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

$1.06 ₾2.77

$0.36 TZS 956

194.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$0.40 TZS 1,045

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₾7.06

$0.73 TZS 1,918

269.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ₾8.09

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₾5.74

$0.55 TZS 1,437

300.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₾2.10

$0.91 TZS 2,386

-10.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$0.92 TZS 2,420

78.26%

Eggs

$2.75 ₾7.19

$2.28 TZS 5,995

20.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 ₾23.52

$3.74 TZS 9,830

140.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 ₾17.10

$3.78 TZS 9,951

73.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ₾32.94

$3.44 TZS 9,038

266.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₾4.36

$1.15 TZS 3,026

45.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₾4.73

$0.78 TZS 2,038

132.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₾5.04

$0.96 TZS 2,526

101.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 ₾6.76

$0.72 TZS 1,892

259.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.26

$0.92 TZS 2,415

-5.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$0.77 TZS 2,035

-15.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₾3.63

$0.55 TZS 1,451

152.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.08

$0.77 TZS 2,035

3.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.78

$1.10 TZS 2,890

205.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₾19.68

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

96.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₾4.21

$0.74 TZS 1,943

117.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.86

$1.11 TZS 2,917

102.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$0.39 TZS 1,036

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.11 ₾39.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$1.11 TZS 2,916

5.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₾2.09

$1.87 TZS 4,908

-57.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 ₾29.58

$2.67 TZS 7,031

324.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.47

$1.19 TZS 3,133

11.76%

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

$25.0K ₾65.2K

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

$22.4K ₾58.4K

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

$89.1 ₾233

$23.73 TZS 62.4K

275.52%

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

$13.25 ₾34.58

$18.80 TZS 49.4K

-29.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₾50.8

$44.63 TZS 117.3K

-56.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 ₾179

$37.61 TZS 98.9K

81.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 ₾48.77

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 ₾17.32

$9.46 TZS 24.9K

-29.92%

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

$363 ₾949

$185 TZS 486.7K

96.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$1,135 TZS 3.0M

839.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾270

$11.37 TZS 29.9K

810.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 ₾101

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

307.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾304

$19.10 TZS 50.2K

510.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

$26.66 TZS 70.1K

360.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,782

$112 TZS 293.7K

510.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₾1,166

$75.9 TZS 199.5K

488.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 ₾3,353

$188 TZS 493.6K

584.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ₾2,401

$112 TZS 294.3K

721.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,487 ₾6,492

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 ₾3,715

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₾1,686

$192 TZS 504.5K

236.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

-2.08%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mbeya: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $112 in Mbeya. 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 237% 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $23.00 in Mbeya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $115 – making Mbeya 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 Mbeya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 199%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $646 in Mbeya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mbeya, 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 $1,286 in Tbilisi and $431 in Mbeya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Tbilisi and $185 in Mbeya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mbeya, where all-in costs run around $431, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In Mbeya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mbeya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Mbeya. 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.