Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Pietermaritzburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Pietermaritzburg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,061 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,607 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,153 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 14% more than Pietermaritzburg, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tbilisi and Pietermaritzburg are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Pietermaritzburg 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

$8.32 R 135

29.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$42.99 R 699

0.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$5.76 R 93.6

43.92%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

$2.24 R 36.35

33.93%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.88 R 14.31

-6.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.69 R 11.20

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.67 R 27.13

33.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$2.35 R 38.12

24.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$1.05 R 17.04

83.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$0.80 R 13.06

-15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$1.50 R 24.33

25.33%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$2.35 R 38.19

8.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$6.99 R 114

6.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

$4.71 R 76.5

31.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

$6.82 R 111

37.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$1.66 R 26.91

-26.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.76 R 28.61

-5.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$1.94 R 31.58

-7.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$1.74 R 28.20

28.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$1.54 R 25.11

-53.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.76 R 28.64

-61.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$1.30 R 21.06

-9.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$1.00 R 16.19

-34.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$2.93 R 47.55

1.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

$3.55 R 57.6

114.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$1.43 R 23.27

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

$1.78 R 28.92

26.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$2.73 R 44.44

-86.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

$18.34 R 298

-21.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

$1.69 R 27.48

-11.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$0.52 R 8.49

30.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

$3.98 R 64.7

81.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.20 R 19.47

-5.00%

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

$23.4K R 380.4K

-21.14%

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

$20.0K ₾53.1K

$22.9K R 371.7K

-12.71%

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

$73.7 ₾196

$238 R 3,861

-68.99%

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

$11.64 ₾30.92

$30.61 R 497

-61.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

$58.3 R 948

-69.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$38.05 R 618

58.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

$4.94 R 80.3

33.60%

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

$266 ₾708

$148 R 2,401

80.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$4,723 R 76.8K

9.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$62.2 R 1,011

24.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$37.81 R 615

18.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$178 R 2,885

-34.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$75.4 R 1,226

49.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

$202 R 3,280

243.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

$184 R 2,986

151.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

$523 R 8,492

152.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

$379 R 6,161

104.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

$916 R 14.9K

165.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

$442 R 7,187

226.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

$919 R 14.9K

-26.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

11.5

3.39%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pietermaritzburg: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $202 in Pietermaritzburg. 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 37% higher in Pietermaritzburg, 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 $43.00 in Pietermaritzburg. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $177 in Pietermaritzburg – so Pietermaritzburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pietermaritzburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $1,061 in Pietermaritzburg – roughly 14% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,591 in Pietermaritzburg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $148 in Pietermaritzburg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pietermaritzburg, where all-in costs run around $1,061, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Pietermaritzburg 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 $1,061 in Pietermaritzburg 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 Pietermaritzburg. 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.