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: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,024 in Ballito.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,511 in Ballito.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,998 in Ballito.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 16% more expensive than Ballito, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Ballito 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$7.67 R 129
45.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$28.41 R 476
51.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$4.97 R 83.4
65.39%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$1.92 R 32.22
63.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$0.88 R 14.82
-15.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$0.71 R 11.95
-36.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$1.90 R 31.93
12.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$2.26 R 37.89
32.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$0.99 R 16.60
90.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$0.80 R 13.45
-8.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$1.41 R 23.63
31.21%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$2.00 R 33.51
22.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$6.01 R 101
30.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$4.34 R 72.8
44.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$6.23 R 104
56.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$1.37 R 23.05
-11.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.43 R 24.00
11.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$1.37 R 22.99
30.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$1.00 R 16.83
132.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$0.77 R 12.99
-7.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$1.22 R 20.50
-45.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$1.02 R 17.03
15.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.97 R 16.32
-26.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$3.07 R 51.5
-4.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$4.06 R 68.0
78.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$1.32 R 22.07
17.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$1.75 R 29.32
32.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$1.63 R 27.29
-76.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$25.10 R 421
-41.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$1.71 R 28.75
-13.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$0.56 R 9.33
23.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$6.71 R 112
11.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.23 R 20.63
-6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$19.8K R 332.1K
-9.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$22.8K R 382.1K
-12.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$105 R 1,755
-29.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$20.77 R 348
-43.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$27.62 R 463
-35.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$30.70 R 515
97.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$11.28 R 189
45.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$5.70 R 95.6
14.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$139 R 2,327
89.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$2,506 R 42.0K
104.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$41.27 R 692
88.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$30.56 R 513
45.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$56.4 R 945
108.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$72.2 R 1,211
58.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$363 R 6,083
91.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$444 R 7,443
4.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$696 R 11.7K
92.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$698 R 11.7K
11.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$1,386 R 23.2K
82.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$1,098 R 18.4K
30.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ballito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$1,618 R 27.1K
-60.89%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ballito: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $363 in Ballito. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ballito pays 156% 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 $28.00 in Ballito for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Ballito?
On paper, Ballito earns 156% 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $363 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 $43.00 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 $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,024 in Ballito – a 16% 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 $1,024 in Ballito versus $1,185 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 16% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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