😐A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,151 in Pretoria, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,764 in Pretoria, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,377 in Pretoria, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 4% more than Pretoria, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Tbilisi and Pretoria are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Pretoria14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.39
$8.18R 135
32.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$33.02R 547
32.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.80
$4.90R 81.1
69.59%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.12R 35.18
40.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$1.02R 16.97
-24.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.87R 14.43
-47.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.27R 37.58
-5.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$2.79R 46.13
2.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.19R 19.64
59.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.02R 16.90
-30.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.56R 25.86
22.44%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$2.45R 40.57
1.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$7.65R 127
1.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.21
$4.71R 77.9
31.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.12
$6.40R 106
49.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.63R 26.95
-28.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.53R 25.28
7.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.61R 26.66
14.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.65R 27.31
41.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.32R 21.84
-46.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.20R 19.88
-44.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$1.13R 18.78
5.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$1.15R 19.04
-42.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.85R 47.17
2.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.18
$5.32R 88.2
44.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.59R 26.25
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$1.86R 30.81
24.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$3.11R 51.6
-87.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.72
$65.1R 1,078
-77.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$1.38R 22.89
8.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$1.36R 22.53
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.04
$3.03R 50.2
139.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.30R 21.55
-16.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$19.1KR 316.2K
-2.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$25.9KR 427.9K
-20.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾192
$126R 2,092
-42.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.41
$36.89R 611
-67.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.22
$38.13R 631
-52.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$32.17R 533
89.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.34
$10.56R 175
56.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$7.73R 128
-13.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$200R 3,319
34.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$4,263R 70.6K
20.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$50.4R 834
51.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$32.06R 531
35.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$86.1R 1,425
39.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$89.4R 1,479
23.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,803
$399R 6,604
72.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$402R 6,647
17.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,550
$731R 12.1K
85.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$775R 12.8K
1.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,473
$877R 14.5K
181.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,818
$715R 11.8K
103.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Pretoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$1,482R 24.5K
-55.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
11.69
1.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Pretoria: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $399 in Pretoria. 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 125% higher in Pretoria, 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $33.00 in Pretoria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $183 – making Pretoria 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 Pretoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pretoria cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,726 in Pretoria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pretoria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 341% less in Pretoria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $200 in Pretoria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Pretoria?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pretoria, where all-in costs run around $1,151, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Pretoria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Pretoria more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pretoria – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Pretoria?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Pretoria. 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.