😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,513 in Novo Mesto versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,202 in Novo Mesto versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,892 in Novo Mesto versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.
😐Living in Novo Mesto is roughly 24% more expensive than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Novo Mesto is 13% above, Tbilisi is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.47€9.88
$10.85₾28.75
5.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.22€30.34
$44.17₾117
-20.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.09€7.83
$8.28₾21.94
9.78%
Cappuccino
$1.80€1.55
$3.02₾8.00
-40.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.02
$0.76₾2.02
209.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61€1.38
$0.46₾1.22
250.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29€2.83
$2.24₾5.93
46.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.43
$3.00₾7.95
-6.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.18
$1.93₾5.11
-29.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.39
$0.72₾1.91
123.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.50
$1.84₾4.87
57.61%
Eggs
$3.58€3.09
$2.45₾6.48
46.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.73€11.83
$7.43₾19.67
84.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.80€7.58
$6.48₾17.16
35.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.48€8.17
$9.70₾25.70
-2.27%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$1.20₾3.18
40.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82€1.57
$1.56₾4.14
16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.80
$1.79₾4.75
16.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.93
$2.23₾5.90
52.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14€0.99
$0.65₾1.73
75.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$0.68₾1.79
123.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.12
$1.19₾3.16
9.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.70₾1.86
5.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86€5.05
$2.95₾7.82
98.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90€5.95
$7.33₾19.41
-5.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.20
$1.52₾4.02
-7.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.55
$2.25₾5.95
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.49
$0.36₾0.95
377.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.08€27.64
$14.60₾38.68
119.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.70€1.47
$1.50₾3.97
13.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26€1.09
$0.73₾1.92
72.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.48€24.54
$7.45₾19.74
282.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60€1.38
$1.14₾3.01
40.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K€22.8K
$18.5K₾49.0K
43.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K€24.9K
$20.3K₾53.6K
42.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306€263
$73.9₾196
313.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.75€10.12
$11.71₾31.01
0.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.13€28.55
$18.16₾48.09
82.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.13€25.10
$61.7₾163
-52.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.25€29.51
$16.66₾44.12
105.58%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86€6.78
$6.61₾17.50
18.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$524€452
$264₾700
98.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,530€7,349
$5,145₾13.6K
65.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0€78.4
$74.9₾198
21.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.28€30.40
$43.98₾117
-19.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119€103
$118₾312
1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€128
$114₾301
31.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$526€453
$692₾1,833
-24.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433€373
$454₾1,203
-4.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$882€760
$1,323₾3,504
-33.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757€652
$789₾2,089
-4.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,875€2,477
$2,431₾6,440
18.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,364€2,898
$1,441₾3,818
133.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novo Mesto
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,447€1,247
$645₾1,709
124.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
11.89
-72.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novo Mesto: June 7, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Novo Mesto and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Novo Mesto pays 124% 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: $35.00 in Novo Mesto vs $44.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $259 vs $204, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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
Novo Mesto vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Novo Mesto and Tbilisi?
Novo Mesto and Tbilisi differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,513 vs $1,218 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Novo Mesto or Tbilisi?
Novo Mesto pays 124% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Novo Mesto and Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $526 in Novo Mesto versus $692 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Novo Mesto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $35.00 in Novo Mesto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,513 in Novo Mesto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Novo Mesto. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Novo Mesto and Tbilisi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Novo Mesto or Tbilisi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Novo Mesto 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.
Where should expats move: Novo Mesto or Tbilisi?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Novo Mesto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novo Mesto vs other spots: cost of living compared