Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Baia Mare Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Baia Mare

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $876 in Baia Mare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,406 in Baia Mare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,937 in Baia Mare.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 36% more expensive than in Baia Mare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Baia Mare 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$9.38 RON 42.66
16.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$37.06 RON 168
16.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$7.10 RON 32.26
20.14%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$2.11 RON 9.59
41.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$1.82 RON 8.26
-55.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$1.29 RON 5.85
-67.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$1.60 RON 7.25
35.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$2.20 RON 10.02
30.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.49 RON 6.79
30.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$1.22 RON 5.54
-44.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$1.52 RON 6.91
21.71%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$3.34 RON 15.17
-24.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$7.49 RON 34.04
0.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$5.93 RON 26.96
5.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$8.71 RON 39.61
10.10%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$1.21 RON 5.48
-4.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$1.60 RON 7.25
2.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$1.68 RON 7.63
11.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$2.12 RON 9.62
5.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.77 RON 3.49
-9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$0.94 RON 4.29
-31.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$1.01 RON 4.59
16.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.79 RON 3.60
-11.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$5.20 RON 23.66
-42.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$5.05 RON 22.96
47.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$1.00 RON 4.53
54.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$1.86 RON 8.47
22.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$0.71 RON 3.22
-49.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$16.15 RON 73.4
-8.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$0.72 RON 3.29
97.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$0.87 RON 3.95
-20.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$9.37 RON 42.61
-22.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.53 RON 6.94
-28.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$28.0K RON 127.3K
-34.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$26.2K RON 119.0K
-21.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$114 RON 520
-35.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
$8.42 RON 38.28
39.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$11.49 RON 52.2
53.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$51.7 RON 235
16.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
$20.99 RON 95.4
-22.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$6.97 RON 31.69
-6.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$435 RON 1,979
-38.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$6,894 RON 31.3K
-25.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$54.2 RON 247
42.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$38.93 RON 177
11.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$67.9 RON 309
74.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$92.3 RON 420
22.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$284 RON 1,292
149.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$207 RON 943
123.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$537 RON 2,443
144.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$401 RON 1,823
91.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,522
$2,106 RON 9,574
18.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,773
$1,463 RON 6,651
-1.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
$898 RON 4,081
-26.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
6.5
82.92%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Baia Mare: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $284 in Baia Mare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baia Mare pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $37.00 in Baia Mare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $194 per month, with Baia Mare 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 Baia Mare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baia Mare cheaper than Tbilisi?
Baia Mare is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Baia Mare?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Baia Mare. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Baia Mare?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $284 in Baia Mare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $435 in Baia Mare. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Baia Mare?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Baia Mare?
At $876 in Baia Mare versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baia Mare but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Baia Mare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Baia Mare more family-friendly?
For families, Baia Mare is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Baia Mare?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Baia Mare are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Baia Mare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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