Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ballina, Australia

For one person, living is cheaper in Tbilisi: $1,278 a month against $2,525 in Ballina, rent and utilities included – about $15,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi, Georgia
Ballina, Australia
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,278
/mo nomad
Ballina
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,525
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Ballina

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Ballina actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,525 in Ballina, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,278
  • Ballina $2,525

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,645 in Ballina, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,017
  • Ballina $3,645

A family of three spends $2,755 per month in Tbilisi vs $4,766 in Ballina, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,755
  • Ballina $4,766

Tbilisi is about 49% cheaper than Ballina, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Tbilisi sits 5% below the global median, while Ballina is 87% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 ₾30.07
$17.32 A$24.72
-32.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.41 ₾99.4
$83.4 A$119
-53.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.20
$10.54 A$15.04
-7.59%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ₾9.21
$4.05 A$5.79
-12.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₾2.80
$2.87 A$4.10
-62.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₾1.46
$2.28 A$3.26
-75.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 ₾7.05
$7.68 A$10.96
-64.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ₾8.09
$7.50 A$10.70
-58.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 ₾5.55
$2.68 A$3.82
-20.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$3.43 A$4.89
-78.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.66
$2.21 A$3.15
-18.55%
Eggs
$2.80 ₾7.25
$5.58 A$7.97
-49.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 ₾24.41
$6.16 A$8.80
53.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.00 ₾18.10
$9.52 A$13.59
-26.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 ₾32.83
$14.50 A$20.69
-12.48%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 ₾4.22
$3.60 A$5.14
-54.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.77
$3.05 A$4.36
-39.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₾5.09
$3.27 A$4.66
-39.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ₾6.39
$3.47 A$4.95
-28.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₾1.95
$2.73 A$3.89
-72.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.74
$2.50 A$3.56
-73.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 ₾3.66
$3.46 A$4.93
-59.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₾1.86
$1.55 A$2.21
-53.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.08
$42.40 A$60.5
-91.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 ₾20.40
$14.17 A$20.23
-44.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$4.60 A$6.56
-63.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₾6.12
$5.11 A$7.29
-53.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾0.98
$2.68 A$3.82
-85.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.29 ₾39.56
$82.9 A$118
-81.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₾3.08
$3.41 A$4.87
-65.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.91
$1.60 A$2.28
-53.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.89 ₾30.76
$39.99 A$57.1
-70.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ₾3.77
$1.32 A$1.88
10.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾64.6K
$29.3K A$41.8K
-14.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K ₾59.1K
$26.3K A$37.5K
-13.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 ₾228
$212 A$303
-58.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 ₾32.87
$27.41 A$39.13
-53.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79 ₾51.2
$58.0 A$82.8
-65.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.3 ₾166
$55.5 A$79.2
15.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.17 ₾49.59
$18.00 A$25.68
6.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 ₾17.20
$14.11 A$20.14
-52.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$371 ₾961
$2,118 A$3,023
-82.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,163 ₾23.7K
$20.6K A$29.4K
-55.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾264
$77.1 A$110
32.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 ₾103
$53.8 A$76.8
-26.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾306
$108 A$154
9.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₾310
$122 A$175
-2.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₾1,784
$1,395 A$1,991
-50.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ₾1,193
$1,207 A$1,723
-61.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 ₾3,523
$2,275 A$3,247
-40.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$897 ₾2,321
$1,824 A$2,603
-50.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,277 ₾5,891
$5,839 A$8,334
-61.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,378 ₾3,564
$5,029 A$7,177
-72.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ballina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$710 ₾1,836
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.53
5.9
112.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ballina: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$461
Ballina
$1.2K 162% $746
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$235
Ballina
$376 59.8% $141
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$191
Ballina
$293 53% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$171
Ballina
$163 4.8% $8.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$121
Ballina
$298 147% $177
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Ballina
$84 7.8% $6.1
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Ballina
$105 384% $83

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $690 in Tbilisi versus $1,395 in Ballina. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Tbilisi versus $83 in Ballina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $376 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇦🇺 Ballina
🕒 Local time
06:37 6:37 AM
13:37 1:37 PM
7 h ahead of Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
8,911
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.387 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.343 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.701 USD). 1 EUR = 1.61 AUD (1 AUD = 0.622 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Ballina 13,570 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Ballina

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ballina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tbilisi cheaper than Ballina?
Yes – Ballina is pricier by about 97%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,918 per month in Tbilisi and $3,787 in Ballina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $690 there versus $1,395 in Ballina.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $371 per month in Tbilisi and $2,118 in Ballina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Ballina?
Groceries cost about 60% more in Ballina, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Ballina?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Ballina at $2,525. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ballina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Ballina more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Ballina?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Tbilisi is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 49% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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