😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $774 in Balikpapan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,193 in Balikpapan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,612 in Balikpapan.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 53% more expensive than Balikpapan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Balikpapan42% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$1.52Rp 26.4K
633.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$15.63Rp 270.8K
175.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$3.42Rp 59.3K
140.35%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$1.81Rp 31.4K
72.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.44Rp 7,629
68.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.39Rp 6,718
15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$2.03Rp 35.2K
4.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.16Rp 54.8K
-5.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.79Rp 31.0K
5.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.23Rp 21.4K
-40.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.28Rp 22.1K
44.53%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.66Rp 46.1K
-7.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$7.92Rp 137.3K
-0.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$4.80Rp 83.2K
30.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$7.99Rp 138.5K
22.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$3.64Rp 63.1K
-66.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.50Rp 26.0K
6.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$2.13Rp 36.9K
-15.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.19Rp 20.7K
94.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.86Rp 32.2K
-61.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$3.77Rp 65.3K
-82.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.00Rp 17.3K
18.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.81Rp 14.0K
-12.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$2.06Rp 35.8K
41.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$22.43Rp 388.8K
-67.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.18Rp 37.7K
-28.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$4.38Rp 76.0K
-47.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.62Rp 10.8K
-38.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$9.73Rp 168.7K
52.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$1.24Rp 21.6K
19.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.34Rp 5,934
102.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$6.05Rp 104.8K
23.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$0.78Rp 13.5K
47.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$24.6KRp 425.9M
-26.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$25.9KRp 448.9M
-23.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$91.7Rp 1.6M
-19.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$3.06Rp 53.0K
280.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$32.34Rp 560.5K
-45.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$21.34Rp 369.8K
183.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$6.26Rp 108.4K
162.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$3.00Rp 51.9K
117.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$60.9Rp 1.1M
331.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$7,667Rp 132.9M
-33.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$41.90Rp 726.2K
85.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$20.46Rp 354.6K
116.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$125Rp 2.2M
-5.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$121Rp 2.1M
-5.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$217Rp 3.8M
219.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$156Rp 2.7M
195.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$497Rp 8.6M
169.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$303Rp 5.3M
156.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$1,193Rp 20.7M
112.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$876Rp 15.2M
63.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Balikpapan
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$204Rp 3.5M
209.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
15
-20.73%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Balikpapan: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $217 in Balikpapan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 209% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $16.00 in Balikpapan. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $251, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Tbilisi vs Balikpapan: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Balikpapan?
Tbilisi and Balikpapan differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $774 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Balikpapan?
Tbilisi pays 209% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Balikpapan?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $217 in Balikpapan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and Balikpapan?
A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 52% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Balikpapan?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $60.9 in Balikpapan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $774 in Balikpapan versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Balikpapan but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Balikpapan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Balikpapan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Balikpapan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Balikpapan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Balikpapan?
Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Tbilisi vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado