Cost of Living Comparison Between Nuwara Eliya and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Nuwara Eliya and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $538 in Nuwara Eliya versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $869 in Nuwara Eliya versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,200 in Nuwara Eliya versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.

Living in Nuwara Eliya costs roughly 56% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nuwara Eliya 60% lower, Tbilisi 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 LKR 1,356

$10.85 ₾28.75

-62.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.58 LKR 8,534

$44.17 ₾117

-42.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.14 LKR 2,714

$8.28 ₾21.94

-1.69%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 903

$3.02 ₾8.00

-10.26%

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

$0.74 LKR 249

$0.76 ₾2.02

-2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.46 ₾1.22

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 799

$2.24 ₾5.93

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,093

$3.00 ₾7.95

9.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 567

$1.93 ₾5.11

-11.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.72 ₾1.91

-27.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 289

$1.84 ₾4.87

-52.72%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 708

$2.45 ₾6.48

-13.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.87 LKR 4,627

$7.43 ₾19.67

86.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 LKR 1,603

$6.48 ₾17.16

-25.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,718

$9.70 ₾25.70

-15.98%

Apples (1kg)

$7.61 LKR 2,539

$1.20 ₾3.18

534.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 369

$1.56 ₾4.14

-28.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,911

$1.79 ₾4.75

220.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 398

$2.23 ₾5.90

-46.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 371

$0.65 ₾1.73

70.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 450

$0.68 ₾1.79

98.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.19 ₾3.16

0.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.70 ₾1.86

-18.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.21 LKR 3,406

$2.95 ₾7.82

246.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.47 LKR 4,161

$7.33 ₾19.41

70.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 696

$1.52 ₾4.02

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 963

$2.25 ₾5.95

28.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 138

$1.50 ₾3.97

-72.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 108

$0.73 ₾1.92

-56.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 190

$7.45 ₾19.74

-92.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 402

$1.14 ₾3.01

5.26%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$18.5K ₾49.0K

42.24%

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

$35.1K LKR 11.7M

$20.3K ₾53.6K

73.17%

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

$59.7 LKR 19.9K

$73.9 ₾196

-19.22%

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

$4.41 LKR 1,471

$11.71 ₾31.01

-62.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.13 LKR 5,046

$18.16 ₾48.09

-16.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 LKR 1,141

$6.61 ₾17.50

-48.26%

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

$37.10 LKR 12.4K

$264 ₾700

-85.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 145.4K

$5,145 ₾13.6K

-91.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.39 LKR 9,138

$74.9 ₾198

-63.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 LKR 6,373

$43.98 ₾117

-56.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.6K

$118 ₾312

-39.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.38 LKR 13.1K

$114 ₾301

-65.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Nuwara Eliya vs $44.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 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

Nuwara Eliya is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $806 in Nuwara Eliya and $1,827 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.

Childcare runs $37.10 in Nuwara Eliya versus $264 in Tbilisi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Nuwara Eliya – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $538 in Nuwara Eliya versus $1,218 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Nuwara Eliya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.