Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Alba Iulia Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Alba Iulia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $942 in Alba Iulia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,421 in Alba Iulia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,900 in Alba Iulia.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 32% more expensive than in Alba Iulia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Alba Iulia 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$8.58 RON 39.39

32.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$33.05 RON 152

17.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$6.11 RON 28.02

55.81%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.36 RON 10.83

44.49%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$1.88 RON 8.63

-44.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$1.57 RON 7.20

-59.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.07 RON 9.49

26.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$2.18 RON 10.02

48.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.29 RON 5.90

68.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$1.14 RON 5.22

-35.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.58 RON 7.24

8.23%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.90 RON 13.32

-2.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$8.08 RON 37.08

14.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$6.14 RON 28.18

10.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$11.14 RON 51.1

14.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$0.92 RON 4.21

78.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.42 RON 6.51

24.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.33 RON 6.11

40.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$2.48 RON 11.40

-1.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.74 RON 3.40

17.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.62 RON 2.83

4.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.85 RON 3.91

64.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.69 RON 3.17

7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$5.38 RON 24.70

-36.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$4.46 RON 20.45

70.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.11 RON 5.09

53.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.29 RON 5.91

84.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.74 RON 3.40

-51.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

$17.35 RON 79.6

-12.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.70 RON 3.19

68.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.71 RON 3.24

7.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$4.96 RON 22.75

128.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.54 RON 7.08

-13.64%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$29.0K RON 133.2K

-14.82%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$25.2K RON 115.7K

-12.64%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$129 RON 594

-31.33%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$7.80 RON 35.79

70.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$9.28 RON 42.58

116.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$30.21 RON 139

127.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

$32.46 RON 149

-44.27%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$5.22 RON 23.93

28.74%

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

$374 ₾971

$468 RON 2,149

-20.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$7,271 RON 33.4K

47.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$40.80 RON 187

148.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$25.24 RON 116

55.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$77.9 RON 357

50.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$64.7 RON 297

88.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$304 RON 1,394

124.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$298 RON 1,367

53.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$648 RON 2,973

101.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$484 RON 2,221

85.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

$1,709 RON 7,842

43.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

$1,474 RON 6,765

-1.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$947 RON 4,345

-31.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

6.97

81.06%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Alba Iulia: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $304 in Alba Iulia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alba Iulia pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $33.00 in Alba Iulia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $194 per month, with Alba Iulia 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 Alba Iulia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alba Iulia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Alba Iulia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $304 in Alba Iulia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $942 in Alba Iulia – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alba Iulia runs roughly 14% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $942 in Alba Iulia versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alba Iulia but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Alba Iulia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Alba Iulia 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.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Alba Iulia 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 Alba Iulia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.