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: $1,185 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: Tbilisi 12% lower, Baia Mare 33% lower.

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

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