Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaffna and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $497 per month in Jaffna vs $1,286 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $794 per month in Jaffna vs $2,044 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,090 per month in Jaffna vs $2,802 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Jaffna is about 61% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jaffna and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Jaffna 64% lower, Tbilisi 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.05 LKR 345

$11.72 ₾30.55

-91.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.85 LKR 13.1K

$37.88 ₾98.8

5.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 LKR 1,541

$9.74 ₾25.41

-51.75%

Cappuccino

$3.26 LKR 1,069

$3.41 ₾8.90

-4.40%

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

$1.70 LKR 559

$1.06 ₾2.76

60.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 171

$0.65 ₾1.69

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 LKR 1,161

$2.70 ₾7.05

31.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 LKR 1,981

$3.10 ₾8.08

94.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 LKR 236

$2.20 ₾5.73

-67.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 LKR 148

$0.81 ₾2.10

-44.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.59 LKR 195

$1.64 ₾4.26

-64.02%

Eggs

$1.43 LKR 469

$2.75 ₾7.18

-48.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 LKR 1,520

$9.01 ₾23.50

-48.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 LKR 1,075

$6.55 ₾17.09

-49.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.05 LKR 1,985

$12.62 ₾32.91

-52.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 LKR 1,194

$1.67 ₾4.36

117.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.50 LKR 164

$1.81 ₾4.73

-72.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 LKR 985

$1.93 ₾5.03

55.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 LKR 512

$2.59 ₾6.76

-39.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 336

$0.87 ₾2.26

18.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 LKR 208

$0.65 ₾1.68

-3.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 LKR 196

$1.39 ₾3.63

-56.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.80 ₾2.08

-51.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.62 LKR 3,811

$3.36 ₾8.78

245.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.23 LKR 5,982

$7.54 ₾19.66

141.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 LKR 835

$1.61 ₾4.21

57.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 LKR 95.0

$0.37 ₾0.96

-21.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.13 LKR 1,028

$15.11 ₾39.41

-79.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 LKR 146

$1.17 ₾3.05

-61.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 LKR 75.2

$0.80 ₾2.09

-71.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.33 ₾29.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 LKR 402

$1.33 ₾3.47

-7.52%

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

$25.0K ₾65.2K

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

$45.7K LKR 15.0M

$22.4K ₾58.4K

104.33%

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

$45.93 LKR 15.1K

$89.1 ₾232

-48.46%

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

$3.07 LKR 1,008

$13.25 ₾34.55

-76.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.46 ₾50.8

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.92 LKR 1,943

$68.4 ₾178

-91.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.68 ₾48.73

Cinema Ticket

$1.81 LKR 594

$6.63 ₾17.30

-72.70%

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

$363 ₾948

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.00 LKR 12.1K

$104 ₾270

-64.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 ₾101

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾304

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₾320

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 49.8K

$682 ₾1,780

-77.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$137 LKR 45.1K

$447 ₾1,165

-69.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 LKR 73.5K

$1,284 ₾3,349

-82.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 LKR 64.0K

$920 ₾2,399

-78.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,487 ₾6,486

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 ₾3,711

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$646 ₾1,684

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.73

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

Last update for Jaffna: August 29, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Jaffna versus $682 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 $40.00 in Jaffna versus $38.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Jaffna vs $232 in Tbilisi – so Jaffna 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

Jaffna vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $497 in Jaffna, $1,286 in Tbilisi – roughly 158% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $746 per month in Jaffna and $1,929 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jaffna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 383% less in Jaffna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jaffna, where all-in costs run around $497, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In Jaffna 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 $497 in Jaffna to $1,286 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 Jaffna. 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.