Cost of Living Comparison Between Matara and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Matara and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $585 per month in Matara vs $1,191 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $915 per month in Matara vs $1,856 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,245 per month in Matara vs $2,522 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Matara is about 51% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Matara and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Matara 56% lower, Tbilisi 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.44 LKR 819
$10.91 ₾28.57
-77.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.31 LKR 8,481
$43.19 ₾113
-41.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 LKR 2,823
$8.53 ₾22.32
-1.29%
Cappuccino
$2.76 LKR 926
$2.99 ₾7.82
-7.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 LKR 243
$0.81 ₾2.12
-11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 LKR 125
$0.42 ₾1.09
-11.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 LKR 779
$2.16 ₾5.66
7.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 LKR 1,152
$2.88 ₾7.53
19.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 LKR 571
$1.94 ₾5.08
-12.37%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 LKR 175
$0.68 ₾1.77
-23.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 LKR 273
$1.85 ₾4.83
-56.22%
Eggs
$2.20 LKR 737
$2.53 ₾6.63
-13.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.25 LKR 4,773
$7.53 ₾19.70
89.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 LKR 1,600
$6.26 ₾16.40
-23.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.87 LKR 2,639
$9.59 ₾25.10
-17.94%
Apples (1kg)
$7.39 LKR 2,477
$1.16 ₾3.04
537.07%
Banana (1kg)
$0.55 LKR 185
$1.64 ₾4.29
-66.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.90 LKR 1,978
$1.88 ₾4.93
213.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 LKR 233
$2.23 ₾5.84
-68.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 LKR 289
$0.70 ₾1.83
22.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 LKR 176
$0.64 ₾1.68
-17.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 LKR 384
$1.18 ₾3.10
-2.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 LKR 202
$0.70 ₾1.83
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 LKR 3,339
$2.97 ₾7.79
235.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.83 LKR 4,300
$7.43 ₾19.46
72.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 LKR 697
$1.54 ₾4.03
35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 LKR 1,001
$2.28 ₾5.98
31.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 LKR 61.3
$0.36 ₾0.93
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$14.73 ₾38.56
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 LKR 139
$1.42 ₾3.71
-70.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 LKR 119
$0.69 ₾1.81
-47.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 LKR 188
$7.27 ₾19.02
-92.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 LKR 408
$1.09 ₾2.86
11.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K LKR 8.9M
$18.3K ₾48.0K
45.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K LKR 11.6M
$20.5K ₾53.6K
68.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.15 LKR 8,426
$74.4 ₾195
-66.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23 LKR 1,417
$11.71 ₾30.65
-63.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.10 LKR 1,710
$17.60 ₾46.08
-71.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.3 ₾158
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.29 ₾42.65
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.31 LKR 1,107
$6.51 ₾17.03
-49.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.49 LKR 12.6K
$269 ₾704
-86.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$438 LKR 146.7K
$5,154 ₾13.5K
-91.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.09 LKR 9,411
$77.1 ₾202
-63.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.49 LKR 6,531
$43.48 ₾114
-55.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.6 LKR 23.0K
$118 ₾310
-42.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.16 LKR 12.8K
$113 ₾295
-66.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$166 LKR 55.7K
$709 ₾1,857
-76.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$117 LKR 39.3K
$465 ₾1,216
-74.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$498 LKR 166.8K
$1,316 ₾3,444
-62.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$166 LKR 55.8K
$767 ₾2,007
-78.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,492 ₾6,525
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,442 ₾3,775
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Matara
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$102 LKR 34.3K
$663 ₾1,735
-84.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
11.89
38.35%

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

Last update for Matara: July 28, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $166 in Matara 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 547% 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 $25.00 in Matara versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Matara 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
Matara vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Matara?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $878 per month in Matara 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 Matara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Matara and in Tbilisi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $585 in Matara and $1,191 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $37.49 per month in Matara and $269 in Tbilisi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Matara or in Tbilisi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Matara, where all-in costs run around $585, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Matara or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Matara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Matara 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 Matara. 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.

Matara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities