Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bahir Dar

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahir Dar: $374 a month against $1,269 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Tbilisi
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Tbilisi Living Index

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Tbilisi

🇬🇪 Georgia

$1,269

/mo nomad

Bahir Dar

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$374

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Bahir Dar

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 Bahir Dar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,269 per month in Tbilisi vs $374 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Tbilisi $1,269
Bahir Dar $374

A couple spends around $2,016 per month in Tbilisi vs $568 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Tbilisi $2,016
Bahir Dar $568

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

Tbilisi $2,763
Bahir Dar $763

Tbilisi costs about 239% more than Bahir Dar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Tbilisi and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 ₾30.07

$3.43 ETB 552

239.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.83 ₾97.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.66 ₾24.98

Cappuccino

$3.57 ₾9.24

$1.02 ETB 164

250.00%

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

$1.08 ₾2.78

$0.41 ETB 66.7

163.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₾1.45

$0.48 ETB 78.0

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 ₾6.78

$0.72 ETB 116

263.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.85

$1.96 ETB 315

55.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.60

$0.98 ETB 157

121.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ₾2.06

$1.02 ETB 164

-21.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 ₾4.51

$1.01 ETB 163

72.28%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.31

$1.77 ETB 285

59.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.31 ₾24.07

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 ₾16.85

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 ₾33.50

$10.06 ETB 1,619

28.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 ₾4.33

$3.04 ETB 488

-44.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.79

$0.97 ETB 157

90.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ₾5.10

$2.03 ETB 327

-2.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 ₾6.25

$0.79 ETB 127

206.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₾2.11

$0.62 ETB 99.6

32.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 ₾1.91

$1.18 ETB 190

-37.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ₾3.47

$1.02 ETB 164

31.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₾2.00

$0.51 ETB 82.8

50.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 ₾9.24

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.83

$4.03 ETB 649

90.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.39

$0.77 ETB 125

120.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₾6.21

$1.94 ETB 313

23.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₾1.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.23 ₾39.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ₾2.02

$0.48 ETB 77.3

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.83 ₾30.58

$1.97 ETB 316

500.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₾3.75

$1.02 ETB 164

42.16%

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

$24.6K ₾63.6K

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

$22.3K ₾57.8K

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

$88.8 ₾230

$101 ETB 16.2K

-11.91%

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

$13.12 ₾33.93

$10.15 ETB 1,634

29.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.67 ₾50.9

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 ₾166

$50.9 ETB 8,184

25.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 ₾49.24

$60.5 ETB 9,728

-68.51%

Cinema Ticket

$7.12 ₾18.42

$6.10 ETB 981

16.72%

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

$375 ₾971

$49.48 ETB 7,962

658.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₾27.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₾268

$49.10 ETB 7,900

111.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.26 ₾102

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾303

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾315

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$695 ₾1,798

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₾1,167

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 ₾3,504

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$906 ₾2,343

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,295 ₾5,934

$2,039 ETB 328.1K

12.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,345 ₾3,478

$1,502 ETB 241.7K

-10.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 ₾1,718

$200 ETB 32.1K

232.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 27, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Tbilisi

$451 35.6%

Bahir Dar

–

Groceries & Markets

Tbilisi

$234 18.4%

Bahir Dar

–

Eating Out

Tbilisi

$191 15%

Bahir Dar

–

Clothing & Footwear

Tbilisi

$172 13.5%

Bahir Dar

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Tbilisi

$122 9.6%

Bahir Dar

–

Sport & Entertainment

Tbilisi

$78 6.2%

Bahir Dar

–

Getting Around

Tbilisi

$22 1.7%

Bahir Dar

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Tbilisi are about 3.3 times higher, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇬🇪 Tbilisi

🇪🇹 Bahir Dar

🕒 Local time

11:04 11:04 AM

10:04 10:04 AM

1 h behind Tbilisi

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,241,700 Capital

350,000

💱 Currency

Georgian Lari GEL ₾

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

1 GEL = 0.387 USD

1 GEL = 0.346 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.22 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.57 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ETB, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇬🇪 Georgian Lari (₾)

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.89 GEL (1 GEL = 0.346 EUR).

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 161 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.22 USD). 1 EUR = 180 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.57 EUR).

USD to GEL in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Tbilisi Bahir Dar 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Tbilisi
Bahir Dar

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 Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 239% more than Bahir Dar, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Tbilisi and $561 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,269 in Tbilisi and $374 in Bahir Dar. That makes Bahir Dar about 71% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 88% more in Tbilisi, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $374, than in Tbilisi at $1,269. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $374 in Bahir Dar to $1,269 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.