Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bahir Dar Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bahir Dar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $368 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $566 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $765 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 222% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.15 ₾30.00

$3.46 ETB 541

222.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.13 ₾116

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ₾22.11

Cappuccino

$3.13 ₾8.42

$1.02 ETB 159

206.86%

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

$0.74 ₾2.00

$0.41 ETB 64.4

80.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₾1.22

$0.52 ETB 80.7

-13.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ₾5.74

$0.78 ETB 122

173.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₾8.06

$2.01 ETB 315

48.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₾5.09

$0.98 ETB 153

92.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.97

$0.97 ETB 152

-24.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.98

$0.99 ETB 154

86.87%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.58

$1.78 ETB 279

37.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₾21.12

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ₾16.82

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 ₾26.28

$10.11 ETB 1,580

-3.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₾3.26

$3.06 ETB 478

-60.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₾4.28

$0.99 ETB 154

60.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.81

$2.03 ETB 318

-11.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 ₾6.25

$0.79 ETB 123

193.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.91

$0.66 ETB 104

7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.81

$1.18 ETB 184

-43.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.16

$0.97 ETB 152

21.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₾1.92

$0.52 ETB 80.8

36.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.85

Wine (Bottle)

$7.25 ₾19.50

$4.01 ETB 627

80.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.17

$0.82 ETB 128

89.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.21

$2.06 ETB 322

12.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 ₾39.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₾3.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.86

$0.51 ETB 80.3

35.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾20.05

$2.04 ETB 318

265.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₾3.10

$1.01 ETB 158

13.86%

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

$18.0K ₾48.4K

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

$19.8K ₾53.4K

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

$73.4 ₾198

$99.3 ETB 15.5K

-26.02%

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

$11.64 ₾31.32

$10.15 ETB 1,587

14.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 ₾47.79

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ₾163

$49.85 ETB 7,792

21.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

$58.9 ETB 9,205

-72.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.52

$6.06 ETB 947

7.43%

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

$263 ₾707

$50.2 ETB 7,845

423.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 ₾13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾209

$49.56 ETB 7,746

56.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 ₾119

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾317

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾307

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,865

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,244

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 ₾3,597

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₾2,096

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,530 ₾6,805

$1,988 ETB 310.7K

27.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,430 ₾3,847

$1,511 ETB 236.2K

-5.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ₾1,702

$199 ETB 31.2K

217.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 217% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 222% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $551 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 $1,185 in Tbilisi and $368 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 65% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $368, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $368 versus $1,185 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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