🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $2,252 in Arendal.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $3,400 in Arendal.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $4,548 in Arendal.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 46% less than in Arendal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Arendal is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$18.27NOK 173
-40.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$75.5NOK 716
-41.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$15.44NOK 147
-46.37%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$5.21NOK 49.49
-42.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$3.21NOK 30.46
-76.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$3.05NOK 28.99
-84.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$10.98NOK 104
-79.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$10.23NOK 97.1
-70.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$2.31NOK 21.94
-16.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$3.00NOK 28.52
-76.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$3.60NOK 34.13
-48.89%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$4.36NOK 41.38
-43.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$12.99NOK 123
-42.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$15.36NOK 146
-57.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$27.96NOK 265
-65.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$3.40NOK 32.30
-64.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$2.54NOK 24.08
-38.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$3.10NOK 29.41
-42.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$4.55NOK 43.20
-50.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$2.07NOK 19.60
-68.60%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$2.98NOK 28.27
-77.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$2.61NOK 24.75
-54.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$1.75NOK 16.65
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$15.43NOK 146
-80.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$18.24NOK 173
-59.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$3.35NOK 31.83
-54.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$4.00NOK 38.01
-43.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$3.89NOK 36.88
-90.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$106NOK 1,009
-86.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$7.93NOK 75.3
-81.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$2.08NOK 19.74
-64.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$30.96NOK 294
-75.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$2.08NOK 19.71
-45.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$33.9KNOK 321.7K
-45.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$32.9KNOK 312.7K
-38.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$189NOK 1,793
-60.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$35.99NOK 342
-67.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$74.0NOK 703
-75.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$44.53NOK 423
38.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$54.0NOK 513
-69.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$11.93NOK 113
-44.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$306NOK 2,903
-13.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$10.2KNOK 96.8K
-49.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$96.8NOK 919
-22.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$57.9NOK 550
-24.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$106NOK 1,003
11.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$159NOK 1,512
-28.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$1,099NOK 10.4K
-37.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$708NOK 6,722
-35.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$1,333NOK 12.7K
-0.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$1,162NOK 11.0K
-32.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$3,229NOK 30.7K
-24.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$2,099NOK 19.9K
-31.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$4,080NOK 38.7K
-84.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
3.6
230.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Arendal: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $1,099 in Arendal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arendal pays 533% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $75.0 in Arendal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $457 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 Arendal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Arendal?
Tbilisi and Arendal differ by about 85% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $2,252 including rent). Tbilisi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Arendal earns 533% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Arendal?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $1,099 in Arendal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Arendal?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $306 in Arendal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 124% higher in Arendal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $2,252 in Arendal, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Arendal. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Arendal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Arendal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Arendal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Arendal?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Arendal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.