🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $517 in Nuwara Eliya versus $1,191 in Tbilisi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $844 in Nuwara Eliya versus $1,856 in Tbilisi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,171 in Nuwara Eliya versus $2,522 in Tbilisi.
🌍Living in Nuwara Eliya costs roughly 57% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nuwara Eliya61% lower, Tbilisi11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.99LKR 1,339
$10.91₾28.56
-63.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.24LKR 8,469
$43.19₾113
-41.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.41LKR 2,823
$8.53₾22.31
-1.41%
Cappuccino
$2.62LKR 880
$2.99₾7.81
-12.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73LKR 245
$0.81₾2.12
-9.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38LKR 126
$0.42₾1.09
-9.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37LKR 794
$2.16₾5.65
9.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33LKR 1,118
$2.88₾7.52
15.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77LKR 595
$1.94₾5.08
-8.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57LKR 190
$0.68₾1.77
-16.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87LKR 293
$1.85₾4.83
-52.97%
Eggs
$2.14LKR 719
$2.53₾6.62
-15.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.97LKR 4,688
$7.53₾19.69
85.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.54LKR 1,523
$6.26₾16.39
-27.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.84LKR 2,631
$9.59₾25.09
-18.25%
Apples(1kg)
$7.37LKR 2,474
$1.16₾3.04
535.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06LKR 356
$1.64₾4.29
-35.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.92LKR 1,987
$1.88₾4.93
214.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26LKR 423
$2.23₾5.84
-43.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16LKR 389
$0.70₾1.83
65.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42LKR 475
$0.64₾1.68
121.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14LKR 382
$1.18₾3.09
-3.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60LKR 202
$0.70₾1.83
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97LKR 3,347
$2.97₾7.78
235.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.39LKR 4,157
$7.43₾19.45
66.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10LKR 704
$1.54₾4.03
36.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92LKR 980
$2.28₾5.98
28.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.36₾0.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.73₾38.54
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 140
$1.42₾3.71
-70.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 111
$0.69₾1.81
-52.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.57LKR 192
$7.27₾19.02
-92.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20LKR 404
$1.09₾2.86
10.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1KLKR 9.1M
$18.3K₾47.9K
47.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KLKR 11.8M
$20.5K₾53.6K
71.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.1LKR 19.8K
$74.4₾195
-20.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22LKR 1,416
$11.71₾30.63
-63.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.37LKR 5,158
$17.60₾46.06
-12.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.3₾158
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.29₾42.63
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.29LKR 1,105
$6.51₾17.03
-49.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.10LKR 12.1K
$269₾704
-86.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$434LKR 145.7K
$5,154₾13.5K
-91.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.06LKR 9,416
$77.1₾202
-63.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.14LKR 6,423
$43.48₾114
-55.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.8LKR 23.1K
$118₾310
-41.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.40LKR 12.9K
$113₾295
-65.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$709₾1,856
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465₾1,215
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,316₾3,442
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$767₾2,007
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,492₾6,522
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,442₾3,773
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nuwara Eliya
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$663₾1,735
-
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 Nuwara Eliya: July 26, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Nuwara Eliya vs $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $256 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
Nuwara Eliya vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Nuwara Eliya?
Nuwara Eliya is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 130% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $776 in Nuwara Eliya and $1,787 in Tbilisi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $36.10 in Nuwara Eliya versus $269 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Nuwara Eliya or in Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Nuwara Eliya – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nuwara Eliya or in Tbilisi?
At $517 in Nuwara Eliya versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nuwara Eliya but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Nuwara Eliya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nuwara Eliya or Tbilisi more family-friendly?
For families, Nuwara Eliya 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.
Which city is safer, Nuwara Eliya or Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Nuwara Eliya 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nuwara Eliya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 130% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Nuwara Eliya vs other spots: cost of living compared