😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,483 in Melissia versus $1,247 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Melissia versus $2,025 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,085 in Melissia versus $2,803 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Melissia is roughly 19% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Melissia is 8% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34€9.82
$11.33₾29.45
0.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.7€54.3
$38.71₾101
61.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.01€7.81
$9.52₾24.73
-5.36%
Cappuccino
$4.15€3.60
$3.41₾8.85
21.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$1.04₾2.71
130.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.49
$0.64₾1.66
-12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.58€3.97
$2.61₾6.80
75.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30€4.59
$3.24₾8.43
63.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95€1.69
$2.17₾5.65
-10.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52€1.31
$0.74₾1.92
105.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.51
$1.71₾4.45
69.59%
Eggs
$5.13€4.44
$2.83₾7.36
81.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.58€10.03
$9.22₾23.96
25.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.34€8.96
$6.76₾17.56
52.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.35€16.77
$12.77₾33.18
51.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24€1.94
$1.64₾4.26
36.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.75
$1.77₾4.60
13.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46€1.27
$1.87₾4.85
-21.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03€1.76
$2.44₾6.35
-16.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17€1.02
$0.87₾2.25
34.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20€1.04
$0.65₾1.70
84.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88€0.76
$1.40₾3.64
-37.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.74₾1.93
18.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76€4.99
$3.41₾8.86
68.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.44€9.05
$7.60₾19.76
37.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.88
$1.70₾4.41
27.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.41
$2.38₾6.20
17.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40€1.22
$0.36₾0.94
288.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.43€39.37
$15.24₾39.61
198.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.67€4.05
$1.18₾3.07
295.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.91
$0.76₾1.97
39.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.70€12.74
$11.34₾29.47
29.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20€1.91
$1.33₾3.46
65.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K€25.2K
$24.7K₾64.3K
17.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K€21.0K
$22.0K₾57.2K
10.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221€192
$88.9₾231
149.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.25€21.88
$13.33₾34.64
89.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.52€26.45
$20.12₾52.3
51.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.8€49.19
$68.7₾178
-17.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.21€25.31
$18.09₾47.02
61.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.36€8.11
$6.72₾17.46
39.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$503€436
$374₾971
34.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,608€3,994
$10.7K₾27.8K
-56.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7€80.3
$101₾263
-8.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.21€32.24
$39.33₾102
-5.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€90.8
$118₾305
-10.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€115
$122₾318
8.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$538€466
$682₾1,773
-21.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409€355
$456₾1,186
-10.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$748€648
$1,303₾3,386
-42.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$622€539
$899₾2,338
-30.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,707€2,346
$2,449₾6,366
10.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,334€2,022
$1,452₾3,775
60.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melissia
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,377€1,193
$652₾1,695
111.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.37
12.62
-65.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Melissia: September 13, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $538 in Melissia and $682 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Melissia pays 111% 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: $63.0 in Melissia vs $39.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 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
Melissia vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Melissia or Tbilisi?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Melissia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Melissia or in Tbilisi?
Average pay runs 111% higher in Melissia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Melissia compared to Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $538 in Melissia versus $682 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Melissia compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $1,483 per month in Melissia versus $1,247 in Tbilisi – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Melissia compared to Tbilisi?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 198% less than in Melissia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Melissia or in Tbilisi?
At $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,483 in Melissia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Melissia. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Melissia or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,247 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Melissia compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Melissia 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Melissia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.