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 $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $373 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $568 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $764 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 220% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 11% lower, Bahir Dar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$3.40 ETB 543

220.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$0.98 ETB 157

205.10%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$0.41 ETB 65.8

97.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$0.52 ETB 83.7

-19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$0.74 ETB 117

191.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$1.99 ETB 317

44.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$0.98 ETB 157

97.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$0.99 ETB 158

-31.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$1.02 ETB 163

81.37%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$1.77 ETB 282

42.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$10.14 ETB 1,619

-5.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$2.97 ETB 474

-60.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$1.01 ETB 162

62.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

$2.04 ETB 326

-7.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$0.78 ETB 125

185.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.62 ETB 99.6

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$1.17 ETB 187

-45.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

$1.01 ETB 161

16.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.48 ETB 76.9

45.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$4.07 ETB 649

82.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$0.84 ETB 133

83.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$1.99 ETB 317

14.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$0.48 ETB 76.7

43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

$1.97 ETB 315

269.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

$1.03 ETB 164

5.83%

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

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

$74.4 ₾195

$101 ETB 16.1K

-26.43%

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

$9.95 ETB 1,590

17.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

$50.9 ETB 8,133

18.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

$61.1 ETB 9,754

-73.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

$6.14 ETB 980

6.03%

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

$269 ₾704

$50.4 ETB 8,047

434.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

$49.40 ETB 7,889

56.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

$2,008 ETB 320.7K

24.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

$1,489 ETB 237.8K

-3.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

$198 ETB 31.6K

235.33%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 235% 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 220% 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 $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $559 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 $1,191 in Tbilisi and $373 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 $373, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. 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 $373 versus $1,191 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.