Cost of Living Comparison Between Dambulla and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Dambulla and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $533 per month in Dambulla vs $1,199 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $863 per month in Dambulla vs $1,833 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,193 per month in Dambulla vs $2,466 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Dambulla is about 56% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Dambulla and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Dambulla 60% lower, Tbilisi 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.92 LKR 1,240

$10.86 ₾29.20

-63.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.98 LKR 7,906

$43.33 ₾117

-42.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 LKR 2,701

$8.25 ₾22.19

3.39%

Cappuccino

$2.67 LKR 846

$3.10 ₾8.33

-13.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 LKR 215

$0.80 ₾2.15

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 118

$0.46 ₾1.24

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 730

$2.16 ₾5.81

6.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 LKR 1,030

$2.94 ₾7.92

10.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 539

$1.93 ₾5.19

-11.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 178

$0.67 ₾1.81

-16.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 275

$1.82 ₾4.91

-52.20%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 696

$2.56 ₾6.88

-14.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.12 LKR 4,470

$7.61 ₾20.48

85.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 LKR 1,516

$6.51 ₾17.50

-26.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.26 LKR 2,613

$9.67 ₾26.00

-14.58%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,334

$1.16 ₾3.12

535.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 339

$1.62 ₾4.36

-33.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 LKR 1,841

$1.87 ₾5.04

211.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 378

$2.33 ₾6.26

-48.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 349

$0.65 ₾1.75

69.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 LKR 452

$0.63 ₾1.70

126.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 381

$1.18 ₾3.17

1.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 179

$0.70 ₾1.90

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,164

$3.04 ₾8.17

228.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 LKR 3,939

$7.27 ₾19.56

71.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 642

$1.59 ₾4.27

27.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 942

$2.30 ₾6.18

29.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 LKR 32.08

$0.36 ₾0.96

-72.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.68 ₾39.48

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 122

$1.50 ₾4.03

-74.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 104

$0.70 ₾1.87

-52.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 191

$7.35 ₾19.78

-91.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 381

$1.13 ₾3.05

6.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.5K LKR 8.4M

$18.2K ₾49.0K

45.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.1K LKR 11.1M

$20.2K ₾54.5K

73.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$60.8 LKR 19.2K

$74.0 ₾199

-17.83%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.27 LKR 1,350

$11.87 ₾31.93

-64.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.86 LKR 4,703

$17.55 ₾47.20

-15.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾162

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.69 ₾44.89

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,037

$6.73 ₾18.10

-51.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$37.36 LKR 11.8K

$261 ₾703

-85.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 141.2K

$5,146 ₾13.8K

-91.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.46 LKR 8,691

$77.6 ₾209

-64.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.70 LKR 6,234

$43.48 ₾117

-54.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 22.3K

$118 ₾318

-40.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.78 LKR 12.3K

$111 ₾298

-65.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 ₾1,891

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 ₾1,231

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 ₾3,621

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₾2,120

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,560 ₾6,885

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,443 ₾3,881

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 ₾1,742

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

11.89

38.35%

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

Last update for Dambulla: April 20, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Dambulla versus $703 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25 in Dambulla versus $43 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Dambulla vs $206 in Tbilisi – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Dambulla vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $533 in Dambulla, $1,199 in Tbilisi – roughly 125% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $799 per month in Dambulla and $1,799 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Dambulla and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dambulla, where all-in costs run around $533, than in Tbilisi at $1,199. In Dambulla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $533 in Dambulla to $1,199 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dambulla. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.