Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Assela: $835 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Assela
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
$835
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Assela and in Tbilisi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Assela and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $835 in Assela versus $1,266 in Tbilisi.

  • Assela $835
  • Tbilisi $1,266

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,203 in Assela versus $2,007 in Tbilisi.

  • Assela $1,203
  • Tbilisi $2,007

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,571 in Assela versus $2,749 in Tbilisi.

  • Assela $1,571
  • Tbilisi $2,749

Living in Assela costs roughly 34% less than in Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Assela 38% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.96 ETB 636
$11.34 ₾29.35
-65.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.32 ETB 6,793
$39.05 ₾101
8.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.66 ETB 1,069
$9.63 ₾24.92
-30.84%
Cappuccino
$0.96 ETB 153
$3.46 ₾8.95
-72.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ETB 102
$1.09 ₾2.82
-41.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ETB 109
$0.63 ₾1.62
7.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.83 ETB 133
$2.77 ₾7.17
-70.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 ETB 353
$3.10 ₾8.04
-29.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 ETB 169
$2.25 ₾5.81
-53.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 ETB 188
$0.80 ₾2.07
46.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 ETB 357
$1.76 ₾4.55
26.14%
Eggs
$1.78 ETB 286
$2.75 ₾7.11
-35.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.18 ETB 1,152
$9.39 ₾24.32
-23.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.17 ETB 1,632
$6.66 ₾17.23
52.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.17 ETB 1,471
$12.92 ₾33.45
-29.02%
Apples (1kg)
$5.43 ETB 871
$1.67 ₾4.31
225.15%
Banana (1kg)
$0.68 ETB 109
$1.80 ₾4.65
-62.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 ETB 348
$1.92 ₾4.97
13.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.66 ETB 106
$2.41 ₾6.24
-72.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.47 ETB 75.4
$0.86 ₾2.23
-45.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 ETB 169
$0.69 ₾1.80
52.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ETB 106
$1.40 ₾3.62
-52.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ETB 96.9
$0.71 ₾1.85
-15.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.03 ETB 1,290
$3.51 ₾9.08
128.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.49 ETB 881
$7.61 ₾19.69
-27.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ETB 106
$1.63 ₾4.21
-59.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 ETB 196
$2.31 ₾5.98
-47.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.37 ₾0.96
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$15.67 ₾40.57
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ETB 207
$1.14 ₾2.95
13.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ETB 46.58
$0.79 ₾2.05
-63.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 ETB 325
$11.86 ₾30.70
-82.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ETB 144
$1.40 ₾3.62
-35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.3K ETB 8.7M
$24.8K ₾64.2K
118.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.5K ETB 9.1M
$21.9K ₾56.6K
158.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 ETB 32.2K
$89.1 ₾231
125.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.11 ETB 1,141
$13.21 ₾34.19
-46.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$209 ETB 33.5K
$19.76 ₾51.1
957.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$64.9 ₾168
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.02 ₾49.24
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.83 ETB 614
$6.57 ₾17.02
-41.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$137 ETB 22.1K
$377 ₾975
-63.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K ETB 4.8M
$10.8K ₾27.9K
179.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.25 ETB 5,337
$102 ₾265
-67.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.9 ETB 11.4K
$39.70 ₾103
78.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ETB 12.5K
$118 ₾305
-34.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.6 ETB 13.3K
$123 ₾320
-33.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$666 ₾1,724
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$449 ₾1,163
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,284 ₾3,324
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$890 ₾2,303
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,425 ₾6,276
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,380 ₾3,573
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Assela
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$680 ₾1,760
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.5
12.62
46.59%

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

Last update for Assela: October 11, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Assela
$417
Tbilisi
$122 70.7% $295
Groceries & Markets
Assela
$211
Tbilisi
$234 10.5% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Assela
$119
Tbilisi
$172 44.9% $53
Eating Out
Assela
$77
Tbilisi
$188 144% $111
Sport & Entertainment
Assela
$7.7 *
Tbilisi
$78 920% $70
Getting Around
Assela
$2.7 *
Tbilisi
$22 712% $20
Accommodation & Living
Assela
- *
Tbilisi
$449

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $42.00 in Assela vs $39.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $234, with Assela cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇪🇹 Assela
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
18:51 6:51 PM
19:51 7:51 PM
1 h ahead of Assela
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
139,500
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to ETB – Ethiopian Birr Converter

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 160 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.23 USD). 1 EUR = 180 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.54 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Assela Tbilisi 3,790 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Assela
  • Tbilisi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Assela vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Assela?
Assela is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,252 in Assela and $1,899 in Tbilisi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $137 in Assela versus $377 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Assela or in Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Assela – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Assela or in Tbilisi?
At $835 in Assela versus $1,266 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Assela but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Assela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Assela or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Assela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Assela or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Assela and Tbilisi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Assela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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