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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $979 per month in Sandanski vs $1,197 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Sandanski vs $1,868 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,078 per month in Sandanski vs $2,538 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Sandanski is about 18% 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

$9.06 BGN 15.06

$10.82 ₾28.38

-16.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.59 BGN 79.2

$43.85 ₾115

8.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.38 BGN 13.94

$8.31 ₾21.79

0.84%

Cappuccino

$2.43 BGN 4.04

$2.97 ₾7.78

-18.18%

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

$1.44 BGN 2.40

$0.77 ₾2.01

87.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 BGN 1.43

$0.46 ₾1.20

86.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 BGN 5.05

$2.14 ₾5.63

41.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 BGN 4.82

$2.87 ₾7.52

1.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 BGN 2.97

$1.90 ₾4.99

-5.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BGN 1.75

$0.71 ₾1.86

47.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 BGN 3.62

$1.91 ₾5.00

13.61%

Eggs

$3.18 BGN 5.29

$2.48 ₾6.52

28.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 BGN 19.76

$7.74 ₾20.29

53.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.84 BGN 13.03

$6.18 ₾16.20

26.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.09 BGN 20.11

$9.57 ₾25.11

26.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 BGN 2.59

$1.17 ₾3.06

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 BGN 2.90

$1.65 ₾4.34

5.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 BGN 2.66

$1.85 ₾4.84

-13.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 BGN 3.00

$2.33 ₾6.11

-22.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 BGN 1.66

$0.71 ₾1.85

40.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 BGN 1.92

$0.67 ₾1.76

71.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.19 ₾3.12

-8.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BGN 1.38

$0.66 ₾1.72

25.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 BGN 5.73

$2.92 ₾7.65

17.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.73 BGN 9.54

$7.69 ₾20.17

-25.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 BGN 1.61

$1.59 ₾4.18

-38.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$2.31 ₾6.06

-39.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

$0.38 ₾1.01

139.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.66 BGN 44.35

$14.76 ₾38.71

80.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 BGN 1.99

$1.50 ₾3.92

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

$0.68 ₾1.77

-2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.73 BGN 17.85

$7.26 ₾19.03

47.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BGN 2.52

$1.09 ₾2.87

39.45%

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

$32.0K BGN 53.3K

$18.6K ₾48.8K

72.17%

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

$28.4K BGN 47.3K

$20.5K ₾53.7K

38.81%

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

$96.1 BGN 160

$73.0 ₾191

31.67%

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

$18.08 BGN 30.08

$11.97 ₾31.40

51.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.45 BGN 25.69

$18.00 ₾47.21

-14.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.12 BGN 48.45

$61.0 ₾160

-52.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.85 BGN 24.70

$16.52 ₾43.33

-10.11%

Cinema Ticket

$9.32 BGN 15.51

$6.70 ₾17.58

39.10%

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

$431 BGN 716

$269 ₾705

60.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,541 BGN 9,219

$5,152 ₾13.5K

7.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 BGN 102

$76.5 ₾201

-20.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.25 BGN 58.7

$43.41 ₾114

-18.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 BGN 168

$120 ₾316

-16.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$111 ₾290

-4.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 BGN 479

$687 ₾1,802

-58.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 BGN 390

$470 ₾1,234

-50.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 BGN 797

$1,353 ₾3,549

-64.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$360 BGN 599

$789 ₾2,069

-54.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,357 BGN 2,258

$2,468 ₾6,472

-45.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,088 BGN 1,810

$1,456 ₾3,817

-25.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 BGN 969

$659 ₾1,729

-11.67%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Sandanski versus $687 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $205 – 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: $979 in Sandanski, $1,197 in Tbilisi – roughly 22% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,469 per month in Sandanski and $1,796 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 $979 in Sandanski and $1,197 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 81% 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 $979, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. 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 $979 in Sandanski to $1,197 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.