🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $531 in Badulla versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $866 in Badulla versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,201 in Badulla versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.
🙂Living in Badulla costs roughly 55% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Badulla60% lower, Tbilisi12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08LKR 1,300
$11.15₾30.00
-63.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.24LKR 8,050
$43.13₾116
-41.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.16LKR 2,602
$8.22₾22.11
-0.73%
Cappuccino
$2.62LKR 836
$3.13₾8.42
-16.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74LKR 236
$0.74₾2.00
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37LKR 119
$0.45₾1.22
-17.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36LKR 752
$2.13₾5.74
10.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33LKR 1,062
$2.99₾8.06
11.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66LKR 530
$1.89₾5.09
-12.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 168
$0.73₾1.97
-27.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.69LKR 220
$1.85₾4.98
-62.70%
Eggs
$2.15LKR 685
$2.45₾6.58
-12.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.31LKR 4,563
$7.85₾21.12
82.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.99LKR 1,271
$6.25₾16.82
-36.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.86LKR 2,505
$9.77₾26.28
-19.55%
Apples(1kg)
$7.67LKR 2,447
$1.21₾3.26
533.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06LKR 339
$1.59₾4.28
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.73LKR 1,829
$1.79₾4.81
220.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21LKR 387
$2.32₾6.25
-47.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11LKR 355
$0.71₾1.91
56.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43LKR 455
$0.67₾1.81
113.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20LKR 383
$1.18₾3.16
1.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61LKR 193
$0.71₾1.92
-14.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.86LKR 3,145
$2.92₾7.85
237.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.64LKR 4,031
$7.25₾19.50
74.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08LKR 664
$1.55₾4.17
34.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84LKR 905
$2.31₾6.21
22.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38₾1.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.81₾39.83
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 123
$1.48₾3.98
-73.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36LKR 114
$0.69₾1.86
-47.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.61LKR 193
$7.45₾20.05
-91.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20LKR 382
$1.15₾3.10
4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KLKR 8.7M
$18.0K₾48.4K
50.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KLKR 11.2M
$19.8K₾53.4K
76.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.1LKR 19.2K
$73.4₾198
-18.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.20LKR 1,340
$11.64₾31.32
-63.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.23LKR 4,857
$17.77₾47.79
-14.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.6₾163
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.44₾44.21
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.25LKR 1,037
$6.51₾17.52
-50.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.67LKR 11.7K
$263₾707
-86.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$441LKR 140.6K
$5,136₾13.8K
-91.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.02LKR 8,937
$77.7₾209
-63.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.70LKR 6,283
$44.39₾119
-55.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.3LKR 22.1K
$118₾317
-41.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.65LKR 12.3K
$114₾307
-66.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$693₾1,865
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$462₾1,244
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,337₾3,597
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$779₾2,096
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,530₾6,805
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,430₾3,847
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Badulla
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$633₾1,702
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
11.89
0.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Badulla: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Badulla vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $253 vs $206, 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
Badulla vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Badulla?
Badulla is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 123% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $797 in Badulla and $1,777 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 $36.67 in Badulla versus $263 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Badulla or Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Badulla or Tbilisi?
At $531 in Badulla versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Badulla but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Badulla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Badulla or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Badulla 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, Badulla or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Badulla 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 Badulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 123% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.