Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $654 in Machala versus $1,191 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,027 in Machala versus $1,856 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,399 in Machala versus $2,522 in Tbilisi.

Living in Machala costs roughly 45% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machala 51% lower, Tbilisi 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.47 $2.47

$10.91 ₾28.56

-77.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.02 $24.02

$43.19 ₾113

-44.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 $6.63

$8.53 ₾22.31

-22.27%

Cappuccino

$2.53 $2.53

$2.99 ₾7.81

-15.38%

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

$0.73 $0.73

$0.81 ₾2.12

-9.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.42 ₾1.09

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.16 ₾5.65

-8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.88 ₾7.52

58.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.94 ₾5.08

-46.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.68 ₾1.77

58.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.85 ₾4.83

-51.35%

Eggs

$1.45 $1.45

$2.53 ₾6.62

-42.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$7.53 ₾19.69

-55.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.26 ₾16.39

-35.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$9.59 ₾25.09

-50.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.16 ₾3.04

75.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.64 ₾4.29

-32.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.88 ₾4.93

-61.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.23 ₾5.84

-51.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 $0.42

$0.70 ₾1.83

-40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$0.64 ₾1.68

-20.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 $0.36

$1.18 ₾3.09

-69.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.70 ₾1.83

45.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.97 ₾7.78

43.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.56 $7.56

$7.43 ₾19.45

1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.54 ₾4.03

3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.28 ₾5.98

-7.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.36 ₾0.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.28 $24.28

$14.73 ₾38.54

64.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.42 ₾3.71

3.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.69 ₾1.81

47.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.27 ₾19.02

7.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.09 ₾2.86

-41.28%

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

$17.7K $17.7K

$18.3K ₾47.9K

-3.41%

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

$22.2K $22.2K

$20.5K ₾53.6K

8.39%

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

$38.20 $38.20

$74.4 ₾195

-48.62%

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

$13.74 $13.74

$11.71 ₾30.63

17.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.07 $27.07

$17.60 ₾46.06

53.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.37 $42.37

$60.3 ₾158

-29.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.51 $14.51

$16.29 ₾42.63

-10.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 $5.04

$6.51 ₾17.03

-22.58%

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

$135 $135

$269 ₾704

-49.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,865 $5,865

$5,154 ₾13.5K

13.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$77.1 ₾202

-31.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.40 $43.40

$43.48 ₾114

-0.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 $80.5

$118 ₾310

-32.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.6 $67.6

$113 ₾295

-40.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 $187

$709 ₾1,856

-73.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 $133

$465 ₾1,215

-71.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 $354

$1,316 ₾3,442

-73.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 $256

$767 ₾2,007

-66.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,175 $1,175

$2,492 ₾6,522

-52.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$745 $745

$1,442 ₾3,773

-48.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$446 $446

$663 ₾1,735

-32.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

-57.95%

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

Last update for Machala: July 28, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $187 in Machala and $709 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 49% 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: $24.00 in Machala vs $43.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $143 vs $204 per month, with Machala 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

Machala vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 82% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Tbilisi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $187 in Machala versus $709 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $654 per month in Machala versus $1,191 in Tbilisi – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $654 in Machala versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Machala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Machala 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.

Expats usually find Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.