😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,643 in Heraklion versus $1,286 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,592 in Heraklion versus $2,044 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Heraklion versus $2,802 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Heraklion is roughly 28% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Heraklion is 20% above, Tbilisi is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.37€13.21
$11.72₾30.58
31.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9€49.76
$37.88₾98.9
52.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.61€9.12
$9.74₾25.43
8.93%
Cappuccino
$4.13€3.55
$3.41₾8.91
21.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55€2.20
$1.06₾2.77
140.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75€0.64
$0.65₾1.69
15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67€4.88
$2.70₾7.06
110.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47€4.70
$3.10₾8.09
76.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86€1.60
$2.20₾5.74
-15.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56€1.34
$0.81₾2.10
92.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60€2.23
$1.64₾4.27
58.54%
Eggs
$4.77€4.10
$2.75₾7.19
73.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.53€14.21
$9.01₾23.52
83.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91€9.38
$6.55₾17.10
66.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.49€13.32
$12.62₾32.94
22.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$1.67₾4.36
39.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.89
$1.81₾4.73
21.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45€1.25
$1.93₾5.04
-24.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06€1.78
$2.59₾6.76
-20.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26€1.08
$0.87₾2.26
44.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31€1.12
$0.65₾1.69
101.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99€0.85
$1.39₾3.63
-28.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.67
$0.80₾2.08
-1.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18€4.46
$3.36₾8.78
54.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67€6.59
$7.54₾19.68
1.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.83
$1.61₾4.21
32.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.63
$2.25₾5.86
36.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.49€1.28
$0.37₾0.96
302.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.5€58.9
$15.11₾39.45
353.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66€4.01
$1.17₾3.06
298.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.80₾2.09
42.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.47€9.86
$11.33₾29.58
1.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19€1.88
$1.33₾3.47
64.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K€25.4K
$25.0K₾65.2K
18.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K€22.1K
$22.4K₾58.4K
14.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204€175
$89.1₾233
128.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.27€27.75
$13.25₾34.58
143.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.36€34.70
$19.46₾50.8
107.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.4€43.37
$68.4₾179
-26.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.01€35.26
$18.68₾48.77
119.54%
Cinema Ticket
$9.43€8.11
$6.63₾17.32
42.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$420€361
$363₾949
15.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194€3,606
$10.7K₾27.8K
-60.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1€74.9
$104₾270
-15.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02€38.70
$38.84₾101
15.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1€75.7
$117₾304
-24.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141€121
$123₾320
15.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$648€557
$682₾1,782
-5.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$514€442
$447₾1,166
15.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,161€998
$1,284₾3,353
-9.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,029€884
$920₾2,401
11.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,893€3,347
$2,487₾6,492
56.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,836€2,438
$1,423₾3,715
99.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Heraklion
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,158€995
$646₾1,686
79.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
12.73
-65.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Heraklion: August 31, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $648 in Heraklion and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Heraklion pays 79% 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: $58.0 in Heraklion vs $38.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 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
Heraklion vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Heraklion?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Heraklion or Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 79% higher in Heraklion, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Heraklion and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $648 in Heraklion versus $682 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $420 in Heraklion versus $363 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Heraklion and in Tbilisi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Heraklion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Heraklion or in Tbilisi?
At $1,286 in Tbilisi versus $1,643 in Heraklion, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Heraklion. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Heraklion or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Heraklion, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Heraklion or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Heraklion 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Heraklion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.