Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Alajuela Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Alajuela

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $996 in Alajuela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $1,604 in Alajuela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $2,212 in Alajuela.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 28% more expensive than in Alajuela, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 7% lower, Alajuela 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43 ₾29.72
$12.31 ₡5,507
-7.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16 ₾99.2
$43.81 ₡19.6K
-12.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 ₾24.45
$11.20 ₡5,013
-16.07%
Cappuccino
$3.38 ₾8.78
$4.35 ₡1,947
-22.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.70
$2.53 ₡1,133
-58.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₾1.56
$1.79 ₡799
-66.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 ₾7.05
$3.01 ₡1,348
-9.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ₾7.90
$3.88 ₡1,735
-21.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 ₾5.90
$2.31 ₡1,034
-1.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 ₾2.04
$1.07 ₡481
-26.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.21
$2.14 ₡958
-24.30%
Eggs
$2.74 ₾7.13
$3.47 ₡1,553
-21.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 ₾24.19
$10.90 ₡4,879
-14.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 ₾17.65
$10.40 ₡4,653
-34.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 ₾33.84
$13.88 ₡6,212
-6.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.27
$2.26 ₡1,011
-27.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₾4.77
$1.60 ₡715
14.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 ₾4.94
$2.16 ₡965
-12.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 ₾6.68
$3.93 ₡1,757
-34.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.19
$2.26 ₡1,010
-62.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$2.14 ₡958
-69.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ₾3.54
$1.02 ₡455
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$0.99 ₡443
-19.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 ₾8.85
$5.36 ₡2,399
-36.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 ₾19.94
$20.20 ₡9,039
-62.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₾4.36
$1.41 ₡632
19.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.18
$1.01 ₡452
135.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$0.75 ₡336
-48.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.55 ₾40.44
$129 ₡57.7K
-87.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.96
$1.84 ₡826
-38.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$1.55 ₡696
-52.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.32 ₾29.42
$8.21 ₡3,673
37.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₾3.60
$1.47 ₡659
-6.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.9K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
12.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$27.4K ₡12.3M
-19.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 ₾231
$79.8 ₡35.7K
11.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18 ₾34.26
$30.34 ₡13.6K
-56.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68 ₾51.2
$62.7 ₡28.1K
-68.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ₾177
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94 ₾46.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ₾16.70
$8.35 ₡3,736
-23.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$372 ₾967
$979 ₡438.2K
-62.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾28.1K
$17.4K ₡7.8M
-37.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 ₾272
$70.6 ₡31.6K
47.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83 ₾101
$56.4 ₡25.2K
-31.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₾299
$132 ₡59.0K
-12.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$73.2 ₡32.8K
67.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 ₾1,770
$742 ₡332.2K
-8.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,185
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 ₾3,410
$1,407 ₡629.7K
-6.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 ₾2,321
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,391 ₾6,216
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,425 ₾3,704
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 ₾1,663
$2,143 ₡959.2K
-70.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
8.78
43.74%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Alajuela: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $742 in Alajuela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alajuela pays 235% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $44.00 in Alajuela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $308 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
Tbilisi vs Alajuela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alajuela cheaper than Tbilisi?
Alajuela is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Alajuela?
On paper, salaries run 235% lower in Alajuela. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Alajuela?
Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Tbilisi versus $742 in Alajuela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Alajuela runs roughly 730% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $372 in Tbilisi versus $979 in Alajuela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Alajuela?
At $996 in Alajuela versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alajuela but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Alajuela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Alajuela more family-friendly?
For families, Alajuela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Alajuela?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Alajuela 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Alajuela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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