Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ballsh Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Ballsh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,235 in Ballsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,892 in Ballsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,549 in Ballsh, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 4% more than Ballsh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Ballsh 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43 ₾29.72
$10.13 ALL 800
12.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16 ₾99.2
$53.3 ALL 4,212
-28.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 ₾24.45
$7.19 ALL 568
30.74%
Cappuccino
$3.38 ₾8.78
$2.32 ALL 183
45.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.70
$1.42 ALL 112
-26.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₾1.56
$0.86 ALL 67.5
-30.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 ₾7.05
$3.70 ALL 292
-26.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ₾7.90
$4.18 ALL 330
-27.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 ₾5.90
$2.31 ALL 182
-1.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 ₾2.04
$1.24 ALL 97.8
-36.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.21
$2.39 ALL 189
-32.22%
Eggs
$2.74 ₾7.13
$3.86 ALL 305
-29.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 ₾24.19
$13.60 ALL 1,074
-31.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 ₾17.65
$9.14 ALL 722
-25.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 ₾33.84
$17.57 ALL 1,388
-25.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.27
$2.02 ALL 160
-18.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₾4.77
$2.53 ALL 200
-27.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 ₾4.94
$2.27 ALL 180
-16.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 ₾6.68
$1.86 ALL 147
38.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.19
$1.04 ALL 82.4
-19.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.30 ALL 103
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ₾3.54
$1.50 ALL 118
-9.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$0.82 ALL 64.7
-2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 ₾8.85
$5.04 ALL 398
-32.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 ₾19.94
$11.50 ALL 908
-33.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₾4.36
$1.76 ALL 139
-4.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.18
$2.04 ALL 161
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$0.49 ALL 38.52
-20.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.55 ₾40.44
$20.29 ALL 1,603
-23.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.96
$3.72 ALL 294
-69.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$3.75 ALL 296
-80.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.32 ₾29.42
$18.96 ALL 1,498
-40.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₾3.60
$2.39 ALL 189
-42.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.9K
$34.5K ALL 2.7M
-28.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$37.4K ALL 3.0M
-41.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 ₾231
$102 ALL 8,060
-13.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18 ₾34.26
$18.98 ALL 1,499
-30.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68 ₾51.2
$20.84 ALL 1,646
-5.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ₾177
$58.8 ALL 4,640
16.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94 ₾46.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ₾16.70
$10.04 ALL 793
-36.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$372 ₾967
$346 ALL 27.3K
7.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾28.1K
$8,431 ALL 665.9K
28.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 ₾272
$51.3 ALL 4,050
103.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83 ₾101
$48.84 ALL 3,857
-20.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₾299
$122 ALL 9,673
-6.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$114 ALL 9,016
7.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 ₾1,770
$485 ALL 38.3K
40.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,185
$337 ALL 26.6K
35.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 ₾3,410
$717 ALL 56.6K
82.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 ₾2,321
$476 ALL 37.6K
87.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,391 ₾6,216
$1,886 ALL 149.0K
26.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,425 ₾3,704
$1,282 ALL 101.2K
11.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 ₾1,663
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
5.64
123.76%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $485 in Ballsh. 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $53.0 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $301 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ballsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballsh cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,852 in Ballsh. 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 Ballsh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and in Ballsh?
Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Ballsh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi and $53.0 in Ballsh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Ballsh?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ballsh, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. In Ballsh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Ballsh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ballsh – 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 Ballsh?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ballsh. 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.

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