Cost of Living Comparison Between Matale and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Matale and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $228 per month in Matale vs $1,197 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $371 per month in Matale vs $1,868 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $514 per month in Matale vs $2,538 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Matale is about 81% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Matale and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Matale 83% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.37 LKR 462

$10.82 ₾28.39

-87.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.01 LKR 3,364

$43.85 ₾115

-77.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 LKR 1,670

$8.31 ₾21.80

-40.19%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

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

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.77 ₾2.01

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 LKR 94.6

$0.46 ₾1.20

-39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 669

$2.87 ₾7.52

-30.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 LKR 463

$1.90 ₾4.99

-27.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 LKR 182

$0.71 ₾1.86

-23.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 LKR 208

$1.91 ₾5.00

-67.54%

Eggs

$2.45 LKR 824

$2.48 ₾6.52

-1.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.90 LKR 3,661

$7.74 ₾20.29

40.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 LKR 1,387

$6.18 ₾16.21

-33.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 LKR 2,652

$9.57 ₾25.12

-17.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

Banana (1kg)

$0.47 LKR 159

$1.65 ₾4.34

-71.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 LKR 162

$0.67 ₾1.76

-28.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 LKR 608

$1.59 ₾4.18

13.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 LKR 95.2

$0.68 ₾1.77

-58.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 416

$1.09 ₾2.87

13.76%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

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

$73.0 ₾192

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

$11.97 ₾31.41

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.22

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.34

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

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

$269 ₾705

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.41 LKR 8,873

$76.5 ₾201

-65.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$11.75 LKR 3,948

$111 ₾290

-89.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,803

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 LKR 20.1K

$470 ₾1,234

-87.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,550

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.4 LKR 28.4K

$789 ₾2,069

-89.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,473

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,818

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 LKR 53.2K

$659 ₾1,729

-75.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Matale: July 14, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 316% 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 $10.00 in Matale versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $121 vs $205 – making Matale the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Matale vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 425% more than Matale, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $342 per month in Matale and $1,796 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $228 in Matale and $1,197 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 69% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Matale, where all-in costs run around $228, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Matale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Matale costs $228 versus $1,197 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Matale. 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.