Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bacau

For one person, living is cheaper in Bacau: $916 a month against $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Bacau, Romania
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,269
/mo nomad
Bacau
🇷🇴 Romania
$916
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Bacau

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Bacau actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,269 per month in Tbilisi vs $916 in Bacau, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,269
  • Bacau $916

A couple spends around $2,016 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,552 in Bacau, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,016
  • Bacau $1,552

A family of three spends $2,763 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,189 in Bacau, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,763
  • Bacau $2,189

Tbilisi costs about 39% more than Bacau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Tbilisi and Bacau are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Bacau 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.63 ₾30.07
$14.19 RON 68.2
-18.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.83 ₾97.8
$84.6 RON 407
-55.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 ₾24.98
$7.24 RON 34.80
33.43%
Cappuccino
$3.57 ₾9.24
$2.04 RON 9.81
75.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.78
$2.01 RON 9.64
-46.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.45
$1.87 RON 8.98
-70.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.62 ₾6.78
$2.47 RON 11.88
6.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ₾7.85
$3.34 RON 16.03
-8.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.60
$1.18 RON 5.68
83.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₾2.06
$0.70 RON 3.35
14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 ₾4.51
$1.69 RON 8.12
2.96%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.31
$3.47 RON 16.67
-18.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.31 ₾24.07
$7.68 RON 36.91
21.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.52 ₾16.85
$5.33 RON 25.61
22.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.95 ₾33.50
$8.30 RON 39.88
56.02%
Apples (1kg)
$1.68 ₾4.34
$1.10 RON 5.27
52.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.79
$1.48 RON 7.12
25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.10
$1.49 RON 7.14
32.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 ₾6.25
$1.83 RON 8.80
32.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 ₾2.11
$0.72 RON 3.48
13.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$0.68 RON 3.29
8.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 ₾3.47
$0.75 RON 3.58
78.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.00
$0.72 RON 3.45
6.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57 ₾9.24
$5.35 RON 25.71
-33.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 ₾19.83
$5.25 RON 25.24
46.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.39
$1.02 RON 4.90
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₾6.21
$1.17 RON 5.64
105.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₾1.05
$0.70 RON 3.35
-42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.23 ₾39.38
$29.15 RON 140
-47.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.95
$0.61 RON 2.94
86.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₾2.02
$0.65 RON 3.12
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.83 ₾30.58
$6.72 RON 32.31
76.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ₾3.75
$1.78 RON 8.55
-18.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.6K
$28.9K RON 138.9K
-14.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ₾57.8K
$24.8K RON 119.4K
-10.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₾230
$106 RON 509
-16.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 ₾33.93
$7.47 RON 35.90
75.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.67 ₾50.9
$4.63 RON 22.25
324.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.1 ₾166
$25.29 RON 122
153.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 ₾49.24
$15.98 RON 76.8
19.15%
Cinema Ticket
$7.12 ₾18.42
$6.09 RON 29.25
16.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$375 ₾971
$589 RON 2,830
-36.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ₾27.1K
$4,986 RON 24.0K
110.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾268
$85.0 RON 409
21.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.26 ₾102
$31.98 RON 154
22.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾303
$60.3 RON 290
94.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾315
$83.2 RON 400
46.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$695 ₾1,798
$416 RON 1,999
67.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ₾1,167
$236 RON 1,135
91.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 ₾3,504
$549 RON 2,636
147.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$906 ₾2,343
$405 RON 1,945
123.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,295 ₾5,934
$1,805 RON 8,673
27.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,345 ₾3,478
$1,229 RON 5,905
9.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bacau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 ₾1,718
$936 RON 4,501
-29.07%
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: October 27, 2026

Last update for Bacau: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$451
Bacau
$236 47.6% $215
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$234
Bacau
$177 24.5% $57
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Bacau
$194 1.9% $3.7
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Bacau
$117 31.8% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$122
Bacau
$118 2.9% $3.5
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Bacau
$37 52.1% $41
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Bacau
$36 63.4% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $695 in Tbilisi versus $416 in Bacau. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 41% higher in Bacau, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Tbilisi versus $85 in Bacau. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Tbilisi vs $177 in Bacau – so Bacau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇷🇴 Bacau
🕒 Local time
03:45 3:45 AM
01:45 1:45 AM
2 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
144,307
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.88 GEL (1 GEL = 0.347 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.81 RON (1 RON = 0.208 USD). 1 EUR = 5.35 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Bacau 1,520 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Bacau

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bacau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bacau cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 39%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Tbilisi and $1,373 in Bacau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacau, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $416 there versus $695 in Tbilisi.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Bacau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Tbilisi and $85 in Bacau. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi and in Bacau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,269 in Tbilisi and $916 in Bacau. That makes Bacau about 28% cheaper.
Is it better to live in Tbilisi or in Bacau?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $916 in Bacau to $1,269 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Bacau?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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