Cost of Living Comparison Between Bilbao and TbilisiCost of Living Comparison Between Bilbao and Tbilisi
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,098 in Bilbao versus $1,247 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,199 in Bilbao versus $2,025 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,300 in Bilbao versus $2,803 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Bilbao is roughly 68% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bilbao is 53% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.11€18.28
$11.33₾29.46
86.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4€62.7
$38.71₾101
87.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.87€11.14
$9.52₾24.74
35.19%
Cappuccino
$2.51€2.18
$3.41₾8.86
-26.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98€2.58
$1.04₾2.71
186.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.54
$0.64₾1.66
178.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38€2.93
$2.61₾6.80
29.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31€2.86
$3.24₾8.43
2.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40€1.21
$2.17₾5.65
-35.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58€1.37
$0.74₾1.92
113.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63€1.41
$1.71₾4.45
-4.68%
Eggs
$3.28€2.84
$2.83₾7.36
15.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.05€13.03
$9.22₾23.96
63.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.16€7.06
$6.76₾17.56
20.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63€11.80
$12.77₾33.18
6.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85€2.47
$1.64₾4.26
73.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11€1.83
$1.77₾4.60
19.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.25
$1.87₾4.85
39.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42€2.09
$2.44₾6.35
-0.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51€1.31
$0.87₾2.25
73.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54€2.20
$0.65₾1.70
290.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28€1.11
$1.40₾3.64
-8.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87€0.75
$0.74₾1.93
17.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11€6.16
$3.41₾8.87
108.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.02€6.95
$7.60₾19.76
5.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.38
$1.70₾4.41
-5.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58€2.23
$2.38₾6.20
8.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.84€1.59
$0.36₾0.94
411.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.1€45.08
$15.24₾39.62
241.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.63€4.88
$1.18₾3.07
377.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.92
$0.76₾1.97
39.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.37€28.89
$11.34₾29.48
194.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.55
$1.33₾3.46
34.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.6K
$24.7K₾64.3K
47.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K€27.6K
$22.0K₾57.3K
44.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$88.9₾231
63.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.10
$13.33₾34.64
56.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.41€26.32
$20.12₾52.3
51.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.6€49.00
$68.7₾179
-17.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.73€13.61
$18.09₾47.03
-13.05%
Cinema Ticket
$10.26€8.88
$6.72₾17.46
52.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$541€469
$374₾971
44.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7K€10.2K
$10.7K₾27.8K
9.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.5€80.1
$101₾263
-8.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.80€30.99
$39.33₾102
-8.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6€62.8
$118₾305
-38.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€113
$122₾318
6.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,291€1,118
$682₾1,774
89.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,076€931
$456₾1,187
135.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,463€2,132
$1,303₾3,386
89.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,745€1,510
$899₾2,338
93.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,058€5,244
$2,449₾6,367
147.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,812€3,300
$1,452₾3,775
162.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bilbao
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,502€2,166
$652₾1,696
283.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.98
12.62
-76.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bilbao: September 15, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,291 in Bilbao and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bilbao pays 284% 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: $72.0 in Bilbao vs $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $232 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.
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
Bilbao vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bilbao and in Tbilisi?
Bilbao and Tbilisi differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($2,098 vs $1,247 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bilbao or Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 284% higher in Bilbao, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bilbao and in Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,291 in Bilbao versus $682 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bilbao and Tbilisi?
Childcare runs $541 in Bilbao versus $374 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Bilbao. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $2,098 in Bilbao, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Bilbao. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bilbao 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 Bilbao or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bilbao 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.
Where should expats move: Bilbao or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Bilbao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.