Cost of Living Comparison Between Rivas and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Rivas and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $684 in Rivas versus $1,218 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,082 in Rivas versus $1,853 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,480 in Rivas versus $2,489 in Tbilisi.

Living in Rivas costs roughly 44% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rivas 49% lower, Tbilisi 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91 NIO 143
$10.85 ₾28.75
-63.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.30 NIO 1,037
$44.17 ₾117
-35.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.16 NIO 262
$8.28 ₾21.94
-13.53%
Cappuccino
$1.28 NIO 46.97
$3.02 ₾8.00
-57.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 NIO 31.41
$0.76 ₾2.02
13.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 NIO 25.22
$0.46 ₾1.22
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 NIO 49.38
$2.24 ₾5.93
-39.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 NIO 71.4
$3.00 ₾7.95
-35.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 NIO 44.66
$1.93 ₾5.11
-36.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 NIO 89.9
$0.72 ₾1.91
241.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 NIO 65.6
$1.84 ₾4.87
-2.72%
Eggs
$2.25 NIO 82.2
$2.45 ₾6.48
-8.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.02 NIO 404
$7.43 ₾19.67
48.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.58 NIO 241
$6.48 ₾17.16
1.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.89 NIO 289
$9.70 ₾25.70
-18.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.92 NIO 144
$1.20 ₾3.18
226.67%
Banana (1kg)
$0.84 NIO 30.78
$1.56 ₾4.14
-46.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 NIO 64.0
$1.79 ₾4.75
-2.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 NIO 80.8
$2.23 ₾5.90
-0.90%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 NIO 141
$0.65 ₾1.73
492.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 NIO 81.4
$0.68 ₾1.79
226.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 NIO 37.69
$1.19 ₾3.16
-13.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 NIO 36.89
$0.70 ₾1.86
44.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 NIO 96.6
$2.95 ₾7.82
-10.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.86 NIO 544
$7.33 ₾19.41
102.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 NIO 51.6
$1.52 ₾4.02
-7.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 NIO 79.0
$2.25 ₾5.95
-4.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.36 ₾0.95
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$14.60 ₾38.68
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 NIO 56.3
$1.50 ₾3.97
2.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.73 ₾1.92
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.76 NIO 248
$7.45 ₾19.74
-9.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 NIO 49.25
$1.14 ₾3.01
17.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K NIO 842.3K
$18.5K ₾49.0K
24.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K NIO 957.9K
$20.3K ₾53.6K
29.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.8 NIO 3,543
$73.9 ₾196
30.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.04 NIO 624
$11.71 ₾31.01
45.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.88 NIO 1,387
$18.16 ₾48.09
108.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.7 ₾163
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.66 ₾44.12
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.19 NIO 300
$6.61 ₾17.50
23.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$125 NIO 4,594
$264 ₾700
-52.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,921 NIO 216.9K
$5,145 ₾13.6K
15.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.8 NIO 2,811
$74.9 ₾198
2.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.1 NIO 2,639
$43.98 ₾117
63.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 NIO 4,890
$118 ₾312
13.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 NIO 4,001
$114 ₾301
-3.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$497 NIO 18.2K
$645 ₾1,709
-22.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.25
11.89
-13.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rivas: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tbilisi pays 30% 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: $28.00 in Rivas vs $44.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 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
Rivas vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rivas or Tbilisi?
Rivas wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rivas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rivas or Tbilisi?
On paper, Tbilisi earns 30% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Are groceries more expensive in Rivas or Tbilisi?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Rivas compared to Tbilisi?
All in, you'll spend $684 per month in Rivas versus $1,218 in Tbilisi – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rivas or Tbilisi?
At $684 in Rivas versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rivas but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Rivas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rivas or Tbilisi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rivas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $684 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rivas hard to pass up.
How safe is Rivas compared to Tbilisi?
Safety-wise, Rivas 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 Rivas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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