Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ballito Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ballito

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,027 in Ballito.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,492 in Ballito.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,957 in Ballito.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 19% more expensive than Ballito, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Ballito 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$7.52 R 122
44.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$27.90 R 451
58.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$4.91 R 79.4
68.64%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$2.00 R 32.29
51.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$0.90 R 14.52
-15.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$0.71 R 11.40
-35.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$2.01 R 32.54
11.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$2.20 R 35.62
36.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$0.99 R 16.03
94.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$0.78 R 12.69
-7.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$1.48 R 23.90
24.32%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$1.97 R 31.88
24.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$5.88 R 95.0
26.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$4.36 R 70.5
48.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$6.31 R 102
53.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$1.38 R 22.32
-13.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$1.36 R 21.99
14.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$1.31 R 21.25
36.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$1.01 R 16.40
120.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$0.78 R 12.65
-16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$1.23 R 19.87
-44.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$1.02 R 16.55
16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$0.89 R 14.31
-21.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$3.11 R 50.2
-5.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$4.89 R 79.1
49.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$1.38 R 22.31
10.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$1.69 R 27.34
33.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$1.60 R 25.91
-77.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$25.03 R 405
-41.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$1.72 R 27.74
-12.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$0.56 R 9.07
30.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$6.82 R 110
9.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.22 R 19.75
-6.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$20.3K R 328.9K
-9.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$22.3K R 361.1K
-9.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$105 R 1,703
-29.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$21.13 R 342
-44.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$27.88 R 451
-34.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$31.45 R 508
96.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$11.17 R 181
49.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$5.44 R 87.9
21.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$139 R 2,254
89.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$2,513 R 40.6K
104.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$42.82 R 692
74.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$29.60 R 479
48.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$55.3 R 893
112.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$73.6 R 1,190
54.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$358 R 5,790
93.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$449 R 7,258
1.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$688 R 11.1K
92.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$679 R 11.0K
16.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$1,501 R 24.3K
-57.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
12.01
-1.00%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ballito: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $358 in Ballito. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ballito pays 133% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $28.00 in Ballito for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $155 per month, with Ballito 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 Ballito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballito cheaper than Tbilisi?
Ballito is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Ballito?
On paper, Ballito earns 133% 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 Ballito?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $358 in Ballito. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Ballito?
Dining out is cheaper in Ballito – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Ballito?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,027 in Ballito – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Ballito?
At $1,027 in Ballito versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ballito but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Ballito the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Ballito more family-friendly?
For families, Ballito 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 Ballito?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Ballito 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 Ballito gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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