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: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $887 in Baia Mare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,427 in Baia Mare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,967 in Baia Mare.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 37% more expensive than Baia Mare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Baia Mare 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$9.11 RON 41.20
19.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$36.19 RON 164
22.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$7.09 RON 32.09
16.78%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$2.21 RON 10.01
36.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$1.79 RON 8.09
-57.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$1.34 RON 6.05
-65.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$1.57 RON 7.09
42.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$2.23 RON 10.07
34.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.44 RON 6.51
34.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$1.23 RON 5.55
-41.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$1.54 RON 6.99
19.48%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$3.25 RON 14.69
-24.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$7.59 RON 34.33
-2.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$6.15 RON 27.83
5.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$9.00 RON 40.73
7.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$1.18 RON 5.32
1.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$1.52 RON 6.89
2.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.74 RON 7.87
2.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$2.21 RON 9.99
0.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$0.76 RON 3.43
-14.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$0.87 RON 3.94
-21.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$1.01 RON 4.57
17.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.79 RON 3.56
-11.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$5.43 RON 24.55
-45.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$4.90 RON 22.15
49.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$1.03 RON 4.68
47.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$1.77 RON 8.02
27.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.67 RON 3.03
-46.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$16.35 RON 73.9
-10.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$0.76 RON 3.43
97.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$0.80 RON 3.64
-8.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$9.04 RON 40.89
-17.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.51 RON 6.83
-24.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$28.6K RON 129.2K
-35.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$26.0K RON 117.5K
-22.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$117 RON 530
-36.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$8.37 RON 37.88
39.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$11.17 RON 50.5
62.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$51.3 RON 232
20.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$20.91 RON 94.6
-20.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$6.71 RON 30.34
-1.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$431 RON 1,952
-38.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$6,838 RON 30.9K
-24.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$53.0 RON 240
41.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$38.92 RON 176
13.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$70.4 RON 318
67.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$93.2 RON 422
22.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$287 RON 1,296
141.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$210 RON 951
115.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$536 RON 2,426
146.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$400 RON 1,809
97.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$2,362 RON 10.7K
2.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$1,555 RON 7,033
-7.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$871 RON 3,940
-25.95%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Baia Mare: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $287 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $36.00 in Baia Mare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $195 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 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Baia Mare?
On paper, Baia Mare earns 35% less. 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: $692 in Tbilisi versus $287 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 $264 in Tbilisi versus $431 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 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 Tbilisi or Baia Mare?
At $887 in Baia Mare versus $1,218 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 37% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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