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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,211 in Ballsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,879 in Ballsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,548 in Ballsh, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 1% cheaper than Ballsh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Ballsh 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$11.71 ALL 955
-7.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$58.6 ALL 4,783
-25.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$6.84 ALL 558
21.49%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.02 ALL 165
47.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$1.43 ALL 117
-46.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.90 ALL 73.8
-48.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$2.93 ALL 239
-26.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$4.03 ALL 329
-28.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$2.15 ALL 175
-11.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.10 ALL 89.7
-35.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$2.13 ALL 174
-10.33%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$3.92 ALL 320
-36.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$13.24 ALL 1,080
-41.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$7.62 ALL 621
-18.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$15.43 ALL 1,258
-37.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$1.77 ALL 144
-33.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$2.67 ALL 218
-38.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$1.98 ALL 162
-6.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$1.92 ALL 157
21.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$1.31 ALL 107
-45.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$1.28 ALL 105
-47.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$1.49 ALL 122
-20.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.75 ALL 61.2
-12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$4.32 ALL 352
-32.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$10.42 ALL 850
-26.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$1.64 ALL 134
-3.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$2.07 ALL 168
11.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.49 ALL 39.78
-22.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$18.62 ALL 1,519
-20.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$3.58 ALL 292
-58.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$3.08 ALL 252
-77.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$17.31 ALL 1,412
-58.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$2.09 ALL 170
-47.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$39.4K ALL 3.2M
-52.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$35.0K ALL 2.9M
-41.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$108 ALL 8,833
-32.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$17.62 ALL 1,437
-32.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$18.27 ALL 1,490
-1.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$55.8 ALL 4,550
9.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$25.12 ALL 2,049
-34.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$9.63 ALL 786
-30.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$161 ALL 13.1K
67.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$5,544 ALL 452.2K
-7.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$68.9 ALL 5,618
11.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$50.0 ALL 4,081
-13.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$108 ALL 8,808
11.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$131 ALL 10.7K
-15.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$455 ALL 37.1K
51.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$346 ALL 28.2K
35.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$603 ALL 49.2K
124.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$434 ALL 35.4K
81.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
$1,795 ALL 146.4K
37.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
$1,327 ALL 108.2K
9.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
5.52
115.40%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $455 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $59.0 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $278 – 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 – Ballsh is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,816 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 Tbilisi, 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?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Ballsh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Ballsh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi and $59.0 in Ballsh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Ballsh?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Ballsh at $1,211. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ballsh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Ballsh 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 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 Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ballsh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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