Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Tbilisi

For one person, living is cheaper in Balikpapan: $669 a month against $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Balikpapan, Indonesia
Tbilisi, Georgia
Balikpapan
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$669
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,269
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Balikpapan 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 Balikpapan and in Tbilisi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $669 in Balikpapan versus $1,269 in Tbilisi.

  • Balikpapan $669
  • Tbilisi $1,269

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,057 in Balikpapan versus $2,016 in Tbilisi.

  • Balikpapan $1,057
  • Tbilisi $2,016

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,444 in Balikpapan versus $2,763 in Tbilisi.

  • Balikpapan $1,444
  • Tbilisi $2,763

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 47% less than in Tbilisi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 51% lower, Tbilisi 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.40 Rp 25.4K
$11.63 ₾30.10
-87.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.88 Rp 197.7K
$37.83 ₾97.9
-71.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.02 Rp 54.8K
$9.66 ₾25.01
-68.74%
Cappuccino
$1.34 Rp 24.4K
$3.57 ₾9.25
-62.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 Rp 6,320
$1.08 ₾2.78
-67.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 7,034
$0.56 ₾1.45
-30.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 Rp 40.8K
$2.62 ₾6.79
-14.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 Rp 63.7K
$3.04 ₾7.86
15.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Rp 20.5K
$2.17 ₾5.61
-47.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
$0.80 ₾2.06
31.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.3K
$1.74 ₾4.52
-32.76%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 44.1K
$2.83 ₾7.32
-14.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.14 Rp 129.7K
$9.31 ₾24.10
-23.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.98 Rp 54.1K
$6.52 ₾16.87
-54.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.63 Rp 156.8K
$12.95 ₾33.54
-33.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 39.6K
$1.68 ₾4.34
29.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
$1.85 ₾4.80
-29.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 28.0K
$1.97 ₾5.11
-21.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$2.42 ₾6.26
-50.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
$0.82 ₾2.12
46.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 35.5K
$0.74 ₾1.91
163.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 Rp 15.3K
$1.34 ₾3.47
-37.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 13.0K
$0.77 ₾2.01
-6.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
$3.57 ₾9.25
-50.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.12 Rp 383.5K
$7.67 ₾19.86
175.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 Rp 32.6K
$1.70 ₾4.39
5.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 54.0K
$2.40 ₾6.21
24.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,151
$0.40 ₾1.05
-42.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.50 Rp 208.8K
$15.23 ₾39.43
-24.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 Rp 20.2K
$1.14 ₾2.95
-2.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 Rp 5,189
$0.78 ₾2.02
-62.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 Rp 51.0K
$11.83 ₾30.62
-76.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 Rp 13.7K
$1.45 ₾3.75
-48.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K Rp 420.9M
$24.6K ₾63.6K
-5.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K Rp 570.2M
$22.3K ₾57.8K
40.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.1 Rp 1.2M
$88.8 ₾230
-27.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.19 Rp 76.1K
$13.12 ₾33.98
-68.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.48 Rp 535.4K
$19.67 ₾50.9
49.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.84 Rp 432.9K
$64.1 ₾166
-62.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.27 Rp 150.3K
$19.04 ₾49.30
-56.57%
Cinema Ticket
$2.82 Rp 51.3K
$7.12 ₾18.44
-60.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.6 Rp 1.7M
$375 ₾972
-75.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,145 Rp 166.1M
$10.5K ₾27.1K
-12.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.81 Rp 686.7K
$104 ₾268
-63.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.66 Rp 338.9K
$39.26 ₾102
-52.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 Rp 2.5M
$117 ₾304
19.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 Rp 1.3M
$122 ₾315
-41.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 Rp 3.6M
$695 ₾1,800
-71.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$143 Rp 2.6M
$451 ₾1,168
-68.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 Rp 10.2M
$1,355 ₾3,508
-58.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$362 Rp 6.6M
$906 ₾2,346
-60.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,323 Rp 24.0M
$2,295 ₾5,942
-42.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$777 Rp 14.1M
$1,345 ₾3,482
-42.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balikpapan
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$238 Rp 4.3M
$664 ₾1,720
-64.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
12.62
-25.04%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: October 27, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Balikpapan
$206
Tbilisi
$234 13.6% $28
Accommodation & Living
Balikpapan
$143
Tbilisi
$451 215% $308
Clothing & Footwear
Balikpapan
$120
Tbilisi
$172 43% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balikpapan
$98
Tbilisi
$122 24.3% $24
Eating Out
Balikpapan
$58
Tbilisi
$191 231% $133
Sport & Entertainment
Balikpapan
$29
Tbilisi
$78 166% $49
Getting Around
Balikpapan
$15
Tbilisi
$22 46.5% $7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Balikpapan and $695 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays about 2.8 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $11 in Balikpapan vs $38 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $234 per month, with Balikpapan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Balikpapan
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🕒 Local time
13:49 1:49 PM
09:49 9:49 AM
4 h behind Balikpapan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
701,066
1,241,700 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,355 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.9 GEL (1 GEL = 0.345 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Balikpapan Tbilisi 8,620 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Balikpapan
  • 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
Balikpapan vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Balikpapan and in Tbilisi?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $669 in Balikpapan and $1,269 in Tbilisi, so Balikpapan is about 47% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 64% lower in Balikpapan. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Balikpapan and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $197 in Balikpapan versus $695 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Balikpapan and in Tbilisi?
A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 24% less than in Tbilisi. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Balikpapan and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $92 in Balikpapan versus $375 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $669 in Balikpapan versus $1,269 in Tbilisi, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Balikpapan but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Balikpapan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Balikpapan and Tbilisi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Balikpapan or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Balikpapan and Tbilisi are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Balikpapan or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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