😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $894 in Baia Mare.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,405 in Baia Mare.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,917 in Baia Mare.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 33% more expensive than Baia Mare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Baia Mare33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$9.40RON 41.00
18.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$37.34RON 163
15.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$6.80RON 29.63
20.88%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.12RON 9.24
47.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.72RON 7.52
-56.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$1.29RON 5.61
-65.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.60RON 6.97
33.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.22RON 9.68
34.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.52RON 6.63
24.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.22RON 5.32
-40.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.58RON 6.89
17.09%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$3.35RON 14.62
-26.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$7.64RON 33.29
2.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$5.98RON 26.08
4.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$8.87RON 38.68
10.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.22RON 5.33
-0.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.53RON 6.67
3.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.72RON 7.51
4.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$2.16RON 9.40
7.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.78RON 3.39
-8.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$0.88RON 3.83
-23.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.05RON 4.58
12.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.80RON 3.49
-11.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$5.17RON 22.56
-43.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$4.94RON 21.55
46.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.04RON 4.54
49.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.84RON 8.03
25.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.67RON 2.93
-43.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$16.29RON 71.0
-9.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$0.76RON 3.32
94.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.81RON 3.53
-14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$9.07RON 39.54
-17.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.53RON 6.65
-24.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$28.4KRON 124.0K
-36.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$26.7KRON 116.3K
-25.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$116RON 508
-36.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$8.84RON 38.53
31.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$11.30RON 49.27
57.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$50.8RON 221
19.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$21.02RON 91.7
-21.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$6.87RON 29.95
-5.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$424RON 1,849
-38.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$6,879RON 30.0K
-25.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$52.8RON 230
47.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$37.98RON 166
16.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$69.9RON 305
68.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$93.5RON 408
22.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$282RON 1,229
145.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$207RON 901
123.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$535RON 2,334
149.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$412RON 1,797
88.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$2,374RON 10.3K
6.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$1,632RON 7,114
-12.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Baia Mare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$906RON 3,949
-30.16%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Baia Mare: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $282 in Baia Mare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Baia Mare pays 43% 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 $206 vs $196 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 33% 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 43% 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $282 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 $263 in Tbilisi versus $424 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 $894 in Baia Mare versus $1,185 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 33% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.