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: $680 in Rivas versus $1,185 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,087 in Rivas versus $1,834 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,495 in Rivas versus $2,483 in Tbilisi.

Living in Rivas costs roughly 43% less than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rivas 49% lower, Tbilisi 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.12 NIO 151
$11.15 ₾30.00
-63.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.15 NIO 1,035
$43.13 ₾116
-34.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.02 NIO 258
$8.22 ₾22.11
-14.60%
Cappuccino
$1.22 NIO 44.73
$3.13 ₾8.42
-61.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 NIO 29.13
$0.74 ₾2.00
6.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 NIO 27.04
$0.45 ₾1.22
64.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.33 NIO 49.01
$2.13 ₾5.74
-37.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 NIO 73.1
$2.99 ₾8.06
-33.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 NIO 44.59
$1.89 ₾5.09
-35.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 NIO 87.4
$0.73 ₾1.97
226.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 NIO 68.1
$1.85 ₾4.98
-
Eggs
$2.27 NIO 83.3
$2.45 ₾6.58
-7.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.42 NIO 420
$7.85 ₾21.12
45.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.64 NIO 244
$6.25 ₾16.82
6.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.22 NIO 302
$9.77 ₾26.28
-15.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.87 NIO 142
$1.21 ₾3.26
219.83%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 NIO 31.06
$1.59 ₾4.28
-46.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 NIO 67.6
$1.79 ₾4.81
2.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.28 NIO 83.8
$2.32 ₾6.25
-1.72%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 NIO 149
$0.71 ₾1.91
470.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 NIO 80.2
$0.67 ₾1.81
225.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 NIO 37.57
$1.18 ₾3.16
-13.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 NIO 37.17
$0.71 ₾1.92
42.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68 NIO 98.4
$2.92 ₾7.85
-8.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.50 NIO 533
$7.25 ₾19.50
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 NIO 52.0
$1.55 ₾4.17
-8.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 NIO 84.0
$2.31 ₾6.21
-1.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.38 ₾1.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$14.81 ₾39.83
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 NIO 56.3
$1.48 ₾3.98
3.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.69 ₾1.86
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.71 NIO 247
$7.45 ₾20.05
-9.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 NIO 49.92
$1.15 ₾3.10
18.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K NIO 852.9K
$18.0K ₾48.4K
28.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K NIO 975.7K
$19.8K ₾53.4K
33.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.0 NIO 3,566
$73.4 ₾198
32.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.99 NIO 625
$11.64 ₾31.32
45.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.86 NIO 1,392
$17.77 ₾47.79
113.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.6 ₾163
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.44 ₾44.21
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 NIO 298
$6.51 ₾17.52
24.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$123 NIO 4,531
$263 ₾707
-53.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,038 NIO 222.0K
$5,136 ₾13.8K
17.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 NIO 2,881
$77.7 ₾209
0.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.6 NIO 2,705
$44.39 ₾119
65.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 NIO 4,866
$118 ₾317
12.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 NIO 3,987
$114 ₾307
-4.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$693 ₾1,865
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$462 ₾1,244
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,337 ₾3,597
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$779 ₾2,096
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,530 ₾6,805
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,430 ₾3,847
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rivas
Tbilisi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 NIO 18.1K
$633 ₾1,702
-21.96%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tbilisi pays 28% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries flip the comparison at $261 vs $206, 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 74% 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 28% 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 27% 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 $680 per month in Rivas versus $1,185 in Tbilisi – a 74% 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 $680 in Rivas versus $1,185 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 $680 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 74% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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