Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandanski and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandanski and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $973 per month in Sandanski vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Sandanski vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,072 per month in Sandanski vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Sandanski is about 20% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sandanski and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Sandanski 27% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.98 BGN 14.95

$10.80 ₾28.69

-16.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.71 BGN 79.4

$43.18 ₾115

10.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 BGN 14.27

$8.29 ₾22.02

3.50%

Cappuccino

$2.43 BGN 4.04

$3.00 ₾7.96

-19.00%

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

$1.43 BGN 2.39

$0.82 ₾2.17

74.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$0.46 ₾1.21

86.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 BGN 5.04

$2.23 ₾5.93

35.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 BGN 5.05

$2.92 ₾7.74

4.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$1.93 ₾5.11

-9.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$0.68 ₾1.81

51.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.55

$1.88 ₾4.99

13.30%

Eggs

$3.15 BGN 5.25

$2.54 ₾6.73

24.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.67 BGN 19.41

$7.42 ₾19.69

57.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 BGN 12.96

$6.19 ₾16.43

25.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.04 BGN 20.02

$9.36 ₾24.86

28.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.22 ₾3.25

23.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.66 ₾4.40

6.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.67

$1.80 ₾4.78

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 BGN 3.01

$2.24 ₾5.95

-19.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 BGN 1.65

$0.71 ₾1.89

39.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 BGN 1.85

$0.67 ₾1.79

65.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.18 ₾3.13

-7.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BGN 1.35

$0.66 ₾1.76

22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.59 BGN 5.97

$2.98 ₾7.91

20.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.02 BGN 10.02

$7.61 ₾20.20

-20.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 BGN 1.62

$1.54 ₾4.08

-37.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 BGN 2.29

$2.25 ₾5.98

-38.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$0.36 ₾0.95

136.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.83 BGN 44.63

$14.44 ₾38.35

85.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 BGN 2.01

$1.49 ₾3.96

-18.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 BGN 1.07

$0.68 ₾1.82

-4.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.53 BGN 17.51

$7.23 ₾19.19

45.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BGN 2.56

$1.14 ₾3.04

35.09%

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

$32.1K BGN 53.4K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

73.83%

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

$28.4K BGN 47.2K

$20.0K ₾53.0K

42.13%

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

$95.3 BGN 159

$73.7 ₾196

29.33%

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

$17.58 BGN 29.24

$11.64 ₾30.90

51.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.36 BGN 25.55

$17.84 ₾47.38

-13.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.47 BGN 49.03

$60.1 ₾160

-50.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.49 BGN 24.10

$16.80 ₾44.62

-13.75%

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 BGN 14.78

$6.60 ₾17.54

34.70%

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

$420 BGN 699

$266 ₾707

57.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,365 BGN 8,926

$5,191 ₾13.8K

3.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 BGN 103

$77.7 ₾206

-20.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.34 BGN 58.8

$44.75 ₾119

-21.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 BGN 166

$117 ₾310

-14.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$113 ₾300

-6.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 BGN 476

$693 ₾1,839

-58.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 BGN 389

$462 ₾1,226

-49.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 BGN 785

$1,320 ₾3,504

-64.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 BGN 583

$774 ₾2,056

-54.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,341 BGN 2,231

$2,430 ₾6,454

-44.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,117 BGN 1,858

$1,446 ₾3,839

-22.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$597 BGN 993

$673 ₾1,786

-11.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

11.89

-62.24%

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

Last update for Sandanski: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Sandanski versus $693 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Sandanski versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $203 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Sandanski vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $973 in Sandanski, $1,209 in Tbilisi – roughly 24% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,459 per month in Sandanski and $1,813 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sandanski, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $973 in Sandanski and $1,209 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 86% less in Sandanski. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandanski, where all-in costs run around $973, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Sandanski it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $973 in Sandanski to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sandanski. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.