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: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $945 in Alba Iulia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,438 in Alba Iulia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,931 in Alba Iulia.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 26% more expensive than in Alba Iulia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Alba Iulia 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$9.42 RON 42.82

15.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

$34.74 RON 158

24.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

$6.17 RON 28.07

38.25%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$2.53 RON 11.51

18.18%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$1.96 RON 8.92

-58.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$1.58 RON 7.20

-73.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$2.16 RON 9.81

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$2.37 RON 10.76

21.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$1.35 RON 6.12

43.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$1.25 RON 5.67

-45.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$1.56 RON 7.11

18.59%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$2.99 RON 13.58

-15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

$8.54 RON 38.82

-11.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

$6.47 RON 29.42

-3.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$11.65 RON 53.0

-17.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$0.97 RON 4.41

19.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$1.42 RON 6.47

15.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

$1.36 RON 6.20

38.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$2.49 RON 11.33

-10.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.78 RON 3.55

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$0.64 RON 2.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

$0.92 RON 4.20

28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.66 RON 2.98

6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

$5.68 RON 25.80

-47.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$4.48 RON 20.36

65.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$1.11 RON 5.04

38.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$1.35 RON 6.12

68.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

$0.83 RON 3.77

-56.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

$17.54 RON 79.7

-16.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

$0.76 RON 3.45

86.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$0.74 RON 3.38

-6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

$5.19 RON 23.60

40.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

$1.51 RON 6.87

-27.81%

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

$27.8K RON 126.4K

-34.07%

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

$27.4K RON 124.5K

-25.20%

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

$74.4 ₾195

$136 RON 617

-45.21%

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

$8.10 RON 36.81

44.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

$8.90 RON 40.48

97.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

$31.77 RON 144

89.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

$34.58 RON 157

-52.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

$5.55 RON 25.24

17.30%

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

$269 ₾704

$458 RON 2,081

-41.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

$6,684 RON 30.4K

-22.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

$43.25 RON 197

78.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

$25.59 RON 116

69.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

$82.3 RON 374

43.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

$69.6 RON 316

61.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

$323 RON 1,468

119.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

$276 RON 1,255

68.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

$555 RON 2,522

137.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

$442 RON 2,010

73.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

$1,670 RON 7,594

49.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

$1,416 RON 6,436

1.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

$937 RON 4,259

-29.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

7.7

54.42%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Alba Iulia: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $323 in Alba Iulia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alba Iulia pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $35.00 in Alba Iulia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $201 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 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% 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: $709 in Tbilisi versus $323 in Alba Iulia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $945 in Alba Iulia – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alba Iulia runs roughly 19% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $945 in Alba Iulia versus $1,191 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 26% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.