🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $2,812 in Arendal.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $3,929 in Arendal.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $5,045 in Arendal.
🌍Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 56% less than in Arendal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Arendal is 106% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$20.31NOK 191
-44.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$67.9NOK 640
-42.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$16.13NOK 152
-40.98%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$5.59NOK 52.7
-39.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$3.62NOK 34.12
-71.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$3.23NOK 30.45
-80.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$11.95NOK 113
-78.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$12.45NOK 117
-73.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$2.43NOK 22.89
-10.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$3.58NOK 33.73
-79.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$3.89NOK 36.66
-56.04%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$5.01NOK 47.20
-43.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$14.93NOK 141
-38.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$14.73NOK 139
-54.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$33.89NOK 319
-62.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$3.68NOK 34.66
-55.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$2.87NOK 27.03
-38.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$3.57NOK 33.63
-47.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$4.90NOK 46.16
-50.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$2.64NOK 24.84
-67.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$3.12NOK 29.44
-79.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$2.77NOK 26.11
-49.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$2.41NOK 22.71
-69.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$17.64NOK 166
-80.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$14.94NOK 141
-49.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$3.66NOK 34.46
-53.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$4.59NOK 43.21
-48.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$3.72NOK 35.06
-90.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
$93.3NOK 879
-83.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$6.37NOK 60.0
-81.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$1.74NOK 16.41
-56.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$107NOK 1,010
-89.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$2.25NOK 21.22
-40.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$49.0KNOK 461.4K
-49.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$42.7KNOK 402.6K
-48.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$252NOK 2,374
-64.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$36.14NOK 341
-63.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$80.2NOK 755
-74.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$38.02NOK 358
80.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$15.79NOK 149
-57.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$333NOK 3,136
12.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$14.5KNOK 136.9K
-26.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$129NOK 1,216
-21.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$44.75NOK 422
-12.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$130NOK 1,222
-9.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$204NOK 1,924
-40.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$1,139NOK 10.7K
-40.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$1,067NOK 10.1K
-57.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
$1,581NOK 14.9K
-17.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
$1,504NOK 14.2K
-40.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
$4,308NOK 40.6K
-43.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
$3,230NOK 30.4K
-55.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Arendal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
$4,248NOK 40.0K
-84.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
4.68
169.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Arendal: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $1,139 in Arendal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arendal pays 551% 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: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $68.0 in Arendal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $502 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 in Arendal?
Tbilisi and Arendal differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $2,812 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, salaries run 551% lower in Arendal. 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 in Arendal?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $1,139 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 $374 in Tbilisi versus $333 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 116% 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 $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $2,812 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 126% less than in Arendal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.