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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,202 in Ballsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,838 in Ballsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,474 in Ballsh, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 1% more than Ballsh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.71
$11.72 ALL 959
-7.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$59.1 ALL 4,832
-26.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.04
$6.81 ALL 557
21.73%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.97
$2.03 ALL 166
47.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.45 ALL 119
-43.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$0.90 ALL 73.9
-48.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.97 ALL 243
-24.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$4.19 ALL 343
-30.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$2.12 ALL 174
-8.96%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.14 ALL 93.0
-40.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾5.00
$2.16 ALL 177
-12.96%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.74
$3.89 ALL 318
-34.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$13.34 ALL 1,091
-44.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.44
$7.70 ALL 630
-19.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.87
$15.67 ALL 1,282
-40.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.77 ALL 145
-31.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$2.78 ALL 228
-40.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$2.04 ALL 167
-11.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$1.98 ALL 162
13.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$1.33 ALL 109
-46.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.32 ALL 108
-49.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$1.45 ALL 119
-18.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.80 ALL 65.6
-17.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$4.37 ALL 357
-31.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.22
$10.96 ALL 897
-30.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.62 ALL 133
-4.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.99
$2.07 ALL 170
8.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.48 ALL 39.46
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.38
$19.01 ALL 1,555
-24.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.97
$3.55 ALL 291
-58.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$3.23 ALL 264
-78.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.20
$17.99 ALL 1,472
-59.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$2.15 ALL 176
-46.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$40.8K ALL 3.3M
-54.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.1K
$35.3K ALL 2.9M
-43.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$107 ALL 8,763
-31.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.92
$17.78 ALL 1,455
-34.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.41
$18.41 ALL 1,506
-3.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$55.6 ALL 4,545
8.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.65
$25.45 ALL 2,082
-33.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.55
$9.21 ALL 754
-28.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$159 ALL 13.0K
67.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$5,513 ALL 451.1K
-5.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$67.1 ALL 5,486
15.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$50.2 ALL 4,104
-10.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$109 ALL 8,922
7.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$129 ALL 10.6K
-12.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,840
$444 ALL 36.4K
55.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,227
$347 ALL 28.4K
33.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,507
$615 ALL 50.3K
114.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,057
$433 ALL 35.4K
78.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,458
$1,749 ALL 143.1K
38.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,842
$1,196 ALL 97.8K
20.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Ballsh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,788
-
-
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $444 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $59.0 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $282 – 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
Which city is cheaper: Tbilisi or Ballsh?
Tbilisi costs about 1% more than Ballsh, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,803 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 Ballsh?
Interestingly, groceries are about 39% 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 Ballsh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Ballsh?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ballsh, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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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