Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,734 in Riyadh versus $1,279 in Tbilisi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Riyadh versus $2,011 in Tbilisi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,429 in Riyadh versus $2,743 in Tbilisi.

Living in Riyadh is roughly 36% more expensive than in Tbilisi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Riyadh is 26% above, Tbilisi is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 SAR 29.24

$11.43 ₾29.72

-31.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 SAR 243

$38.16 ₾99.2

69.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 SAR 33.31

$9.40 ₾24.45

-5.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 SAR 7.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 SAR 11.14

Cappuccino

$4.23 SAR 15.87

$3.38 ₾8.78

25.15%

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

$0.85 SAR 3.19

$1.04 ₾2.70

-18.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.22

$0.60 ₾1.56

-46.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$2.27 ₾5.90

-25.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 SAR 4.70

$0.79 ₾2.04

58.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 SAR 9.21

$1.62 ₾4.21

51.23%

Eggs

$3.19 SAR 11.98

$2.74 ₾7.13

16.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 SAR 36.38

$9.30 ₾24.19

4.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.95 SAR 37.36

$6.79 ₾17.65

46.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 SAR 57.0

$13.01 ₾33.84

16.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 SAR 9.84

$1.64 ₾4.27

59.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.83 ₾4.77

6.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.87

$1.90 ₾4.94

24.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.51

$2.57 ₾6.68

-32.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.50

$0.84 ₾2.19

42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.37

$0.65 ₾1.70

120.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.36 ₾3.54

25.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.80 ₾2.07

-26.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.75 SAR 29.11

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 SAR 9.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.19

$3.40 ₾8.85

120.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.39 ₾1.02

179.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 SAR 141

$15.55 ₾40.44

141.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.33

$1.14 ₾2.96

187.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.09

$0.74 ₾1.93

155.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 SAR 49.32

$11.32 ₾29.42

15.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$1.38 ₾3.60

-57.25%

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

$35.9K SAR 134.7K

$24.6K ₾63.9K

45.98%

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

$22.4K SAR 84.1K

$22.0K ₾57.2K

1.80%

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

$97.0 SAR 364

$88.7 ₾231

9.31%

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

$32.37 SAR 122

$13.18 ₾34.26

145.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 SAR 258

$19.68 ₾51.2

248.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.7 SAR 337

$68.3 ₾177

31.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.9 SAR 206

$17.94 ₾46.65

206.24%

Cinema Ticket

$13.29 SAR 49.89

$6.42 ₾16.70

107.01%

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

$533 SAR 2,000

$372 ₾967

43.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K SAR 42.6K

$10.8K ₾28.1K

4.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 SAR 221

$105 ₾272

-43.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 SAR 211

$38.83 ₾101

44.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 SAR 398

$115 ₾299

-7.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 SAR 392

$122 ₾318

-14.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 SAR 4,408

$681 ₾1,770

72.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$830 SAR 3,117

$456 ₾1,185

82.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 SAR 8,280

$1,312 ₾3,410

68.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 SAR 4,595

$892 ₾2,321

37.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,935 SAR 11.0K

$2,391 ₾6,216

22.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,962 SAR 7,367

$1,425 ₾3,704

37.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,052 SAR 7,705

$640 ₾1,663

220.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

12.62

-56.10%

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

Last update for Riyadh: September 5, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,174 in Riyadh and $681 in Tbilisi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Riyadh pays 221% 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: $65.0 in Riyadh vs $38.00 in Tbilisi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $236 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

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

Riyadh vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Riyadh and Tbilisi differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,734 vs $1,279 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 221% higher in Riyadh, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,174 in Riyadh versus $681 in Tbilisi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,734 per month in Riyadh versus $1,279 in Tbilisi – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 142% less than in Riyadh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $1,734 in Riyadh, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Riyadh. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Riyadh 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Riyadh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.