πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,007 in Pogradec versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,499 in Pogradec versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Pogradec versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.
πLiving in Pogradec costs roughly 17% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Pogradec25% lower, Tbilisi9% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02ALLΒ 655
$10.85βΎ28.75
-26.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.69ALLΒ 3,079
$44.17βΎ117
-14.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.28ALLΒ 595
$8.28βΎ21.94
-12.08%
Cappuccino
$0.93ALLΒ 75.7
$3.02βΎ8.00
-69.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60ALLΒ 131
$0.76βΎ2.02
110.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70ALLΒ 56.8
$0.46βΎ1.22
52.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37ALLΒ 112
$2.24βΎ5.93
-38.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52ALLΒ 206
$3.00βΎ7.95
-16.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02ALLΒ 165
$1.93βΎ5.11
4.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85ALLΒ 69.5
$0.72βΎ1.91
18.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02ALLΒ 165
$1.84βΎ4.87
9.78%
Eggs
$2.06ALLΒ 168
$2.45βΎ6.48
-15.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43ALLΒ 607
$7.43βΎ19.67
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.14ALLΒ 338
$6.48βΎ17.16
-36.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.17ALLΒ 1,076
$9.70βΎ25.70
35.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16ALLΒ 94.9
$1.20βΎ3.18
-3.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37ALLΒ 193
$1.56βΎ4.14
51.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39ALLΒ 113
$1.79βΎ4.75
-22.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20ALLΒ 98.2
$2.23βΎ5.90
-46.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93ALLΒ 75.8
$0.65βΎ1.73
43.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97ALLΒ 79.1
$0.68βΎ1.79
42.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97ALLΒ 79.3
$1.19βΎ3.16
-18.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72ALLΒ 58.6
$0.70βΎ1.86
2.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96ALLΒ 324
$2.95βΎ7.82
34.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.93ALLΒ 811
$7.33βΎ19.41
35.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17ALLΒ 95.3
$1.52βΎ4.02
-23.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76ALLΒ 144
$2.25βΎ5.95
-21.78%
π Getting Around
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48ALLΒ 39.34
$0.36βΎ0.95
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06ALLΒ 1,557
$14.60βΎ38.68
30.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.47ALLΒ 283
$1.50βΎ3.97
131.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60ALLΒ 130
$0.73βΎ1.92
119.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.57ALLΒ 1,436
$7.45βΎ19.74
135.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11ALLΒ 172
$1.14βΎ3.01
85.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KALLΒ 2.8M
$18.5KβΎ49.0K
83.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KALLΒ 2.0M
$20.3KβΎ53.6K
23.22%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.0ALLΒ 5,476
$73.9βΎ196
-9.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67ALLΒ 1,444
$11.71βΎ31.01
50.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.99ALLΒ 1,306
$18.16βΎ48.09
-11.95%
π Sport & Entertainment
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.3ALLΒ 4,520
$61.7βΎ163
-10.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.27ALLΒ 2,064
$16.66βΎ44.12
51.68%
Cinema Ticket
$8.05ALLΒ 658
$6.61βΎ17.50
21.79%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.0ALLΒ 7,680
$264βΎ700
-64.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,145βΎ13.6K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.63ALLΒ 3,810
$74.9βΎ198
-37.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6ALLΒ 4,378
$43.98βΎ117
21.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8ALLΒ 7,830
$118βΎ312
-18.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142ALLΒ 11.6K
$114βΎ301
24.94%
π Accommodation & Living
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443ALLΒ 36.2K
$692βΎ1,833
-35.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338ALLΒ 27.6K
$454βΎ1,203
-25.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$611ALLΒ 49.9K
$1,323βΎ3,504
-53.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437ALLΒ 35.7K
$789βΎ2,089
-44.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,552ALLΒ 126.8K
$2,431βΎ6,440
-36.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451ALLΒ 118.6K
$1,441βΎ3,818
0.68%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Pogradec
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$462ALLΒ 37.7K
$645βΎ1,709
-28.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.89
-66.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pogradec: June 8, 2026
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Pogradec and $692 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Tbilisi pays 40% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $38.00 in Pogradec vs $44.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 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
Pogradec vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pogradec or Tbilisi?
Pogradec wins on cost β living expenses run 21% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pogradec the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Pogradec or Tbilisi?
On paper, Tbilisi earns 40% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Pogradec vs Tbilisi?
Rent for a central apartment: $443 in Pogradec versus $692 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Pogradec or Tbilisi?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Pogradec vs Tbilisi?
Dining out is cheaper in Pogradec β a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Pogradec or Tbilisi?
At $1,007 in Pogradec versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pogradec but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Pogradec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pogradec or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Pogradec delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,007 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pogradec hard to pass up.
How safe is Pogradec compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Pogradec 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 Pogradec gentler on the wallet β expenses run 21% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.