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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,072 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,600 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,129 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 20% more than Pietermaritzburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Pietermaritzburg are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Pietermaritzburg 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 ₾30.55

$7.92 R 126

47.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.88 ₾98.8

$37.51 R 598

0.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₾25.41

$5.78 R 92.2

68.51%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.90

$2.44 R 38.96

39.75%

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

$1.06 ₾2.76

$1.21 R 19.29

-12.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₾1.69

$1.02 R 16.33

-36.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₾7.05

$2.33 R 37.23

15.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ₾8.08

$2.61 R 41.71

18.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₾5.73

$1.38 R 22.00

59.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₾2.10

$0.95 R 15.18

-14.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$1.79 R 28.52

-8.38%

Eggs

$2.75 ₾7.18

$3.33 R 53.1

-17.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 ₾23.50

$7.20 R 115

25.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 ₾17.09

$5.24 R 83.5

25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ₾32.91

$6.93 R 111

82.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₾4.36

$2.10 R 33.52

-20.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₾4.73

$2.02 R 32.25

-10.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₾5.03

$2.40 R 38.32

-19.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 ₾6.76

$2.05 R 32.74

26.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.26

$1.79 R 28.53

-51.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.68

$1.81 R 28.91

-64.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₾3.63

$1.59 R 25.34

-12.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.08

$1.11 R 17.67

-27.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₾8.78

$3.27 R 52.1

2.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₾19.66

$4.06 R 64.8

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₾4.21

$1.42 R 22.69

13.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.86

$1.84 R 29.42

22.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₾0.96

$2.97 R 47.32

-87.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.11 ₾39.41

$19.96 R 318

-24.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ₾3.05

$1.71 R 27.20

-31.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₾2.09

$1.07 R 17.00

-25.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 ₾29.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.47

$1.41 R 22.55

-5.67%

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

$25.0K ₾65.2K

$27.8K R 442.7K

-9.95%

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

$22.4K ₾58.4K

$27.6K R 440.1K

-18.88%

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

$89.1 ₾232

$210 R 3,351

-57.58%

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

$13.25 ₾34.55

$32.58 R 520

-59.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₾50.8

$38.29 R 611

-49.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 ₾178

$44.49 R 710

53.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 ₾48.73

$3.10 R 49.40

502.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 ₾17.30

$4.88 R 77.8

35.86%

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

$363 ₾948

$186 R 2,970

95.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$5,342 R 85.2K

99.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾270

$58.3 R 930

77.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 ₾101

$35.24 R 562

10.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾304

$120 R 1,915

-2.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

$70.4 R 1,122

74.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,780

$228 R 3,636

199.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₾1,165

$227 R 3,616

97.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 ₾3,349

$617 R 9,841

108.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ₾2,399

$424 R 6,763

116.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,487 ₾6,486

$6,128 R 97.7K

-59.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 ₾3,711

$152 R 2,428

834.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₾1,684

$1,090 R 17.4K

-40.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

11.67

9.08%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pietermaritzburg: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $228 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 69% 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $38.00 in Pietermaritzburg. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $202 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: $1,286 in Tbilisi, $1,072 in Pietermaritzburg – roughly 20% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $1,608 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 $363 per month in Tbilisi and $186 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 $1,072, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. 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 $1,072 in Pietermaritzburg to $1,286 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.