🙂A single person spends $917 per month in Elbasan vs $1,191 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,433 per month in Elbasan vs $1,856 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,949 per month in Elbasan vs $2,522 in Tbilisi, rent included.
🙂Elbasan is about 23% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Elbasan and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Elbasan31% lower, Tbilisi11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.47ALL 770
$10.91₾28.56
-13.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.67ALL 2,655
$43.19₾113
-24.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12ALL 579
$8.53₾22.31
-16.53%
Cappuccino
$1.80ALL 147
$2.99₾7.81
-39.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29ALL 105
$0.81₾2.12
59.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75ALL 60.5
$0.42₾1.09
78.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81ALL 147
$2.16₾5.65
-16.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30ALL 187
$2.88₾7.52
-20.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80ALL 146
$1.94₾5.08
-7.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92ALL 75.0
$0.68₾1.77
35.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49ALL 121
$1.85₾4.83
-19.46%
Eggs
$3.00ALL 244
$2.53₾6.62
18.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69ALL 787
$7.53₾19.69
28.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44ALL 442
$6.26₾16.39
-13.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.45ALL 1,012
$9.59₾25.09
29.82%
Apples(1kg)
$0.87ALL 70.5
$1.16₾3.04
-25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37ALL 193
$1.64₾4.29
44.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25ALL 102
$1.88₾4.93
-33.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.93ALL 75.5
$2.23₾5.84
-58.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01ALL 81.7
$0.70₾1.83
44.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03ALL 83.8
$0.64₾1.68
60.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90ALL 73.0
$1.18₾3.09
-23.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57ALL 46.05
$0.70₾1.83
-18.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96ALL 321
$2.97₾7.78
33.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.13ALL 661
$7.43₾19.45
9.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90ALL 73.0
$1.54₾4.03
-41.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43ALL 116
$2.28₾5.98
-37.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48ALL 39.02
$0.36₾0.93
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.61ALL 1,512
$14.73₾38.54
26.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43ALL 279
$1.42₾3.71
141.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28ALL 104
$0.69₾1.81
85.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.32ALL 1,163
$7.27₾19.02
96.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18ALL 177
$1.09₾2.86
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KALL 1.8M
$18.3K₾47.9K
17.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KALL 2.2M
$20.5K₾53.6K
35.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.8ALL 5,425
$74.4₾195
-10.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.59ALL 1,429
$11.71₾30.63
50.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.21ALL 1,235
$17.60₾46.06
-13.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.0ALL 5,364
$60.3₾158
9.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.18ALL 1,314
$16.29₾42.63
-0.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.67ALL 461
$6.51₾17.03
-12.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$139ALL 11.3K
$269₾704
-48.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,791ALL 145.5K
$5,154₾13.5K
-65.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.58ALL 3,866
$77.1₾202
-38.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.42ALL 2,797
$43.48₾114
-20.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5ALL 7,760
$118₾310
-19.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$179ALL 14.5K
$113₾295
58.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286ALL 23.2K
$709₾1,856
-59.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$194ALL 15.7K
$465₾1,215
-58.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$415ALL 33.8K
$1,316₾3,442
-68.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296ALL 24.0K
$767₾2,007
-61.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,310ALL 106.5K
$2,492₾6,522
-47.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$866ALL 70.3K
$1,442₾3,773
-39.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elbasan
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$550ALL 44.7K
$663₾1,735
-16.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.1
11.89
-48.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Elbasan: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Elbasan versus $709 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 20% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Elbasan versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Elbasan vs $204 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
Elbasan vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Elbasan?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,375 per month in Elbasan and $1,787 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Elbasan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Elbasan and in Tbilisi?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Elbasan or in Tbilisi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Elbasan and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Elbasan or in Tbilisi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elbasan, where all-in costs run around $917, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Elbasan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Elbasan or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Elbasan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Elbasan or Tbilisi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Elbasan. 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.