😐A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $888 in Balikesir, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,482 in Balikesir, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,077 in Balikesir, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 37% more than Balikesir, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Balikesir are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi9% lower, Balikesir34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$7.75₺358
40.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$26.23₺1,214
68.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$7.68₺355
7.81%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$2.44₺113
23.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$1.00₺46.30
-24.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.35₺16.29
31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$2.58₺119
-13.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$3.58₺166
-16.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.01₺46.87
91.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.53₺24.31
35.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.26₺58.1
46.03%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$1.92₺88.7
27.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$7.75₺358
-4.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$5.05₺234
28.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$17.82₺824
-45.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$1.55₺71.8
-22.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$2.37₺110
-34.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.47₺68.0
21.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.53₺70.8
45.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.67₺31.11
-2.99%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$0.61₺28.11
11.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.86₺39.96
38.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.53₺24.66
32.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$2.24₺103
31.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$9.86₺456
-25.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$2.32₺107
-34.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$3.33₺154
-32.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.60₺27.91
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$29.39₺1,360
-50.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$2.05₺94.9
-26.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.66₺30.55
10.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$9.05₺419
-17.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.15₺53.2
-0.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$40.9K₺1.9M
-54.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$43.7K₺2.0M
-53.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$65.8₺3,043
12.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$11.74₺543
-0.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$11.73₺542
54.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$57.0₺2,636
8.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$12.44₺576
33.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$5.40₺250
22.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$847₺39.2K
-68.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$5,276₺244.1K
-2.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$31.35₺1,450
138.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$39.84₺1,843
10.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$87.3₺4,039
34.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$62.4₺2,887
82.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$424₺19.6K
63.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$256₺11.8K
77.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$896₺41.5K
47.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$590₺27.3K
33.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$1,275₺59.0K
90.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$822₺38.0K
75.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Balikesir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$1,054₺48.8K
-38.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
29.75
-60.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Balikesir: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $424 in Balikesir. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 63% higher in Balikesir, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $26.00 in Balikesir. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $217 in Balikesir – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Balikesir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Balikesir?
Tbilisi costs about 37% more than Balikesir, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi vs Balikesir?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,331 in Balikesir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Balikesir?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Balikesir, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Balikesir?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,218 in Tbilisi and $888 in Balikesir. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Balikesir?
Public transport costs about 101% less in Balikesir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Balikesir?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Balikesir, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Balikesir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Balikesir?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Balikesir costs $888 versus $1,218 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Balikesir?
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.
Should I move to Tbilisi or Balikesir?
If budget matters most, go with Balikesir. 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.