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: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,638 in Bålsta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $2,559 in Bålsta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $3,481 in Bålsta.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 28% less than in Bålsta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 12% below, Bålsta is 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$13.05 SEK 121
-14.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$69.9 SEK 650
-38.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$9.48 SEK 88.1
-13.29%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$4.28 SEK 39.80
-26.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$2.79 SEK 25.97
-73.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$2.41 SEK 22.38
-81.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$7.19 SEK 66.9
-70.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$7.40 SEK 68.8
-59.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.62 SEK 15.03
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$2.15 SEK 20.03
-66.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$3.65 SEK 33.91
-49.32%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$3.71 SEK 34.54
-33.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$11.53 SEK 107
-31.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$11.81 SEK 110
-47.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$11.55 SEK 107
-15.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$2.71 SEK 25.23
-55.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$2.57 SEK 23.94
-38.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$2.30 SEK 21.43
-22.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$2.96 SEK 27.53
-21.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$1.52 SEK 14.10
-53.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$1.26 SEK 11.71
-46.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$1.60 SEK 14.84
-26.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$1.03 SEK 9.54
-31.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$7.32 SEK 68.1
-60.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$10.76 SEK 100
-32.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$1.55 SEK 14.41
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$1.98 SEK 18.45
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$3.41 SEK 31.70
-88.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$72.4 SEK 673
-79.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$6.05 SEK 56.2
-75.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$1.24 SEK 11.52
-44.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$83.3 SEK 775
-91.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.92 SEK 17.84
-40.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$32.8K SEK 304.6K
-45.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$34.8K SEK 323.3K
-42.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$52.7 SEK 490
39.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$20.59 SEK 192
-43.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$37.27 SEK 347
-52.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$39.89 SEK 371
51.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$24.82 SEK 231
-33.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$13.91 SEK 129
-53.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$125 SEK 1,160
110.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$747 SEK 6,948
587.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$72.6 SEK 675
7.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$10.72 SEK 99.7
314.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$83.2 SEK 774
41.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$118 SEK 1,095
-3.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$855 SEK 7,952
-18.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$656 SEK 6,097
-29.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$1,404 SEK 13.1K
-4.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$1,078 SEK 10.0K
-27.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$4,367 SEK 40.6K
-42.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$2,982 SEK 27.7K
-52.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
$4,261 SEK 39.6K
-85.15%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bålsta: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $855 in Bålsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 574% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $70.0 in Bålsta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 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 38% 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 574% 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $855 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 $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,638 in Bålsta – a 38% 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 389% 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 $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,638 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 $1,185 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 38% less than in Bålsta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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