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: $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $1,587 in Alajuela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,833 in Tbilisi versus $2,357 in Alajuela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $3,126 in Alajuela.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 24% less than in Alajuela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 11% below, Alajuela is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 ₾29.20
$9.71 ₡4,421
11.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33 ₾117
$39.07 ₡17.8K
10.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.25 ₾22.19
$9.48 ₡4,317
-12.97%
Cappuccino
$3.10 ₾8.33
$3.70 ₡1,687
-16.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.15
$2.07 ₡943
-61.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.24
$1.29 ₡586
-64.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.81
$2.16 ₡982
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 ₾7.92
$3.61 ₡1,644
-18.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.19
$1.95 ₡887
-1.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$2.47 ₡1,126
-72.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.91
$2.16 ₡983
-15.74%
Eggs
$2.56 ₾6.88
$2.21 ₡1,008
15.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 ₾20.48
$9.86 ₡4,491
-22.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.51 ₾17.50
$9.01 ₡4,101
-27.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.67 ₾26.00
$13.87 ₡6,314
-30.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.12
$4.05 ₡1,842
-71.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.36
$1.46 ₡663
10.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾5.04
$4.34 ₡1,975
-56.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.26
$2.74 ₡1,247
-14.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.75
$2.80 ₡1,275
-76.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₾1.70
$2.56 ₡1,165
-75.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.17
$1.03 ₡469
14.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.90
$2.62 ₡1,192
-73.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 ₾8.17
$5.11 ₡2,328
-40.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 ₾19.56
$21.93 ₡9,988
-66.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.27
$2.17 ₡990
-26.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₾6.18
$2.56 ₡1,164
-10.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.96
$0.86 ₡393
-58.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.68 ₾39.48
$111 ₡50.4K
-86.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾4.03
$1.43 ₡653
4.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₾1.87
$1.32 ₡599
-46.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.35 ₾19.78
$7.79 ₡3,548
-5.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₾3.05
$1.39 ₡633
-18.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K ₾49.0K
$37.6K ₡17.1M
-51.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ₾54.5K
$33.0K ₡15.0M
-38.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.0 ₾199
$44.35 ₡20.2K
66.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87 ₾31.93
$20.14 ₡9,171
-41.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55 ₾47.20
$32.36 ₡14.7K
-45.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾162
$64.9 ₡29.5K
-6.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69 ₾44.89
$43.69 ₡19.9K
-61.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ₾18.10
$8.82 ₡4,017
-23.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 ₾703
$297 ₡135.5K
-12.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,146 ₾13.8K
$2,314 ₡1.1M
122.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6 ₾209
$63.3 ₡28.8K
22.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾117
$50.5 ₡23.0K
-13.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾318
$118 ₡53.8K
0.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾298
$101 ₡46.1K
9.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 ₾1,891
$705 ₡320.9K
-0.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 ₾1,231
$602 ₡273.9K
-23.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 ₾3,621
$987 ₡449.3K
36.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₾2,120
$950 ₡432.5K
-17.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,560 ₾6,885
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,443 ₾3,881
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Alajuela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$648 ₾1,742
$2,091 ₡952.0K
-69.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
10.17
16.91%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026

Last update for Alajuela: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $705 in Alajuela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alajuela pays 223% 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: $43 in Tbilisi vs $39 in Alajuela. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $347, 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
Tbilisi vs Alajuela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alajuela cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Alajuela?
On paper, Alajuela earns 223% less. 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: $703 in Tbilisi versus $705 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 Tbilisi runs roughly 655% less than in Alajuela. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $261 in Tbilisi versus $297 in Alajuela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Alajuela?
At $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $1,587 in Alajuela, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Alajuela. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Alajuela more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Alajuela, 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 Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Alajuela. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities