Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $490 in Ba versus $1,197 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $806 in Ba versus $1,868 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,122 in Ba versus $2,538 in Tbilisi.

Living in Ba costs roughly 59% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba 63% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 FJD 4.38
$10.82 ₾28.39
-81.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.04 FJD 67.2
$43.85 ₾115
-31.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.88 FJD 13.17
$8.31 ₾21.80
-29.24%
Cappuccino
$2.05 FJD 4.58
$2.97 ₾7.78
-30.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 FJD 2.29
$0.77 ₾2.01
32.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 FJD 1.48
$0.46 ₾1.20
43.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 FJD 7.14
$2.14 ₾5.63
49.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 FJD 7.90
$2.87 ₾7.52
23.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 FJD 2.89
$1.90 ₾4.99
-32.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 FJD 1.10
$0.71 ₾1.86
-30.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 FJD 2.70
$1.91 ₾5.00
-36.65%
Eggs
$3.35 FJD 7.50
$2.48 ₾6.52
35.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.51 FJD 21.29
$7.74 ₾20.29
22.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.08 FJD 15.85
$6.18 ₾16.21
14.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.54 FJD 16.88
$9.57 ₾25.12
-21.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 FJD 5.67
$1.17 ₾3.06
116.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 FJD 5.64
$1.65 ₾4.34
52.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 FJD 7.57
$1.85 ₾4.84
82.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.29 FJD 7.37
$2.33 ₾6.11
41.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 FJD 3.44
$0.71 ₾1.85
116.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 FJD 2.64
$0.67 ₾1.76
76.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 FJD 2.70
$1.19 ₾3.12
1.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 FJD 1.83
$0.66 ₾1.72
24.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.86 FJD 22.07
$2.92 ₾7.65
237.67%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.69 ₾20.18
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 FJD 4.73
$1.59 ₾4.18
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 FJD 7.63
$2.31 ₾6.06
47.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.38 ₾1.01
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$14.76 ₾38.72
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 FJD 1.90
$1.50 ₾3.92
-43.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.68 ₾1.77
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 FJD 19.41
$7.26 ₾19.04
19.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 FJD 3.13
$1.09 ₾2.87
28.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K FJD 54.7K
$18.6K ₾48.8K
31.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K FJD 56.3K
$20.5K ₾53.7K
22.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.95 FJD 103
$73.0 ₾192
-37.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.03 FJD 29.16
$11.97 ₾31.41
8.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.83 FJD 53.3
$18.00 ₾47.22
32.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.0 ₾160
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.52 ₾43.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.34 FJD 9.71
$6.70 ₾17.58
-35.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 FJD 514
$269 ₾705
-14.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K FJD 31.9K
$5,152 ₾13.5K
176.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.30 FJD 58.9
$76.5 ₾201
-65.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.42 FJD 61.4
$43.41 ₾114
-36.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.0 FJD 157
$120 ₾316
-41.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.3 FJD 137
$111 ₾290
-44.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$687 ₾1,803
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$470 ₾1,234
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,353 ₾3,550
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$789 ₾2,069
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,468 ₾6,473
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,456 ₾3,818
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ba
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$388 FJD 869
$659 ₾1,729
-41.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
11.89
-66.36%

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

Last update for Ba: July 13, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tbilisi pays 70% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Ba vs $44.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $219 vs $205, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

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
Ba vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ba or Tbilisi?
Ba wins on cost – living expenses run 144% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ba or in Tbilisi?
On paper, salaries run 70% lower in Tbilisi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do childcare costs compare in Ba and in Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $229 in Ba versus $269 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ba and in Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Ba – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ba or in Tbilisi?
At $490 in Ba versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ba but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Ba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ba or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $490 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ba hard to pass up.
How safe is Ba compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Ba 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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