Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bålsta Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bålsta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,592 in Bålsta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $2,508 in Bålsta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $3,424 in Bålsta.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 23% less than in Bålsta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 9% below, Bålsta is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85 ₾28.75
$12.97 SEK 122
-16.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17 ₾117
$69.6 SEK 652
-36.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ₾21.94
$9.52 SEK 89.3
-13.03%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ₾8.00
$4.26 SEK 39.97
-29.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.02
$2.84 SEK 26.66
-73.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.22
$2.41 SEK 22.63
-80.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾5.93
$7.49 SEK 70.3
-70.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₾7.95
$7.26 SEK 68.2
-58.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.54 SEK 14.45
25.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 ₾1.91
$2.06 SEK 19.29
-65.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 ₾4.87
$3.66 SEK 34.32
-49.73%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.48
$3.69 SEK 34.62
-33.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₾19.67
$11.77 SEK 110
-36.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 ₾17.16
$12.01 SEK 113
-46.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 ₾25.70
$11.40 SEK 107
-14.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 ₾3.18
$2.59 SEK 24.28
-53.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₾4.14
$2.69 SEK 25.24
-42.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.75
$2.30 SEK 21.62
-22.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.90
$2.98 SEK 27.94
-25.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.73
$1.55 SEK 14.50
-58.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.79
$1.30 SEK 12.17
-47.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.16
$1.61 SEK 15.15
-26.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.86
$1.07 SEK 10.07
-34.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₾7.82
$7.58 SEK 71.1
-61.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 ₾19.41
$10.33 SEK 96.9
-29.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.02
$1.61 SEK 15.14
-5.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.95
$1.89 SEK 17.75
19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$3.31 SEK 31.03
-89.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.60 ₾38.68
$72.9 SEK 684
-79.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.97
$6.10 SEK 57.3
-75.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.92
$1.20 SEK 11.24
-39.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾19.74
$83.0 SEK 778
-91.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.01
$1.91 SEK 17.89
-40.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$32.4K SEK 303.9K
-42.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾53.6K
$34.2K SEK 321.2K
-40.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ₾196
$51.8 SEK 486
42.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾31.01
$21.14 SEK 198
-44.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16 ₾48.09
$35.91 SEK 337
-49.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 ₾163
$39.95 SEK 375
54.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ₾44.12
$25.28 SEK 237
-34.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ₾17.50
$13.45 SEK 126
-50.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₾700
$129 SEK 1,206
105.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 ₾13.6K
$736 SEK 6,904
598.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 ₾198
$74.6 SEK 700
0.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 ₾117
$10.50 SEK 98.5
318.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾312
$84.0 SEK 788
40.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾301
$117 SEK 1,099
-2.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$692 ₾1,833
$834 SEK 7,825
-17.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 ₾1,203
$655 SEK 6,146
-30.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 ₾3,504
$1,380 SEK 12.9K
-4.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,089
$1,086 SEK 10.2K
-27.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 ₾6,440
$4,805 SEK 45.1K
-49.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 ₾3,818
$2,705 SEK 25.4K
-46.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$645 ₾1,709
$4,170 SEK 39.1K
-84.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
3
296.33%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Bålsta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $834 in Bålsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 546% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $70.0 in Bålsta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $307 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Bålsta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Bålsta?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Bålsta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Bålsta?
On paper, Bålsta earns 546% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Bålsta?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $834 in Bålsta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Bålsta?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,592 in Bålsta – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Bålsta?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 399% less than in Bålsta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Bålsta?
At $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,592 in Bålsta, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Bålsta. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Bålsta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,218 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Bålsta?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Bålsta 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Bålsta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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