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: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,596 in Bålsta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $2,543 in Bålsta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $3,490 in Bålsta.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 25% less than in Bålsta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 11% below, Bålsta is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$13.40 SEK 127
-18.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$69.6 SEK 661
-37.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$9.18 SEK 87.2
-7.08%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$4.17 SEK 39.60
-28.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$2.69 SEK 25.54
-69.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$2.47 SEK 23.47
-83.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$7.56 SEK 71.8
-71.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$7.43 SEK 70.6
-61.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.61 SEK 15.28
20.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$2.09 SEK 19.83
-67.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$3.75 SEK 35.58
-50.67%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$3.81 SEK 36.22
-33.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$11.47 SEK 109
-34.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$11.86 SEK 113
-47.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$11.81 SEK 112
-18.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$2.67 SEK 25.35
-56.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$2.59 SEK 24.64
-36.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$2.30 SEK 21.86
-18.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$2.92 SEK 27.75
-23.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.54 SEK 14.63
-54.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$1.25 SEK 11.91
-48.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$1.62 SEK 15.35
-27.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$1.08 SEK 10.23
-35.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$7.59 SEK 72.1
-60.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$10.13 SEK 96.2
-26.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$1.62 SEK 15.36
-4.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$1.90 SEK 18.03
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$3.47 SEK 33.01
-89.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$73.3 SEK 696
-79.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$6.15 SEK 58.5
-76.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$1.23 SEK 11.71
-43.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$82.5 SEK 784
-91.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.94 SEK 18.44
-43.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$32.9K SEK 312.2K
-44.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$34.0K SEK 322.6K
-39.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$52.4 SEK 498
41.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
$20.96 SEK 199
-44.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$37.17 SEK 353
-52.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$41.28 SEK 392
46.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
$24.99 SEK 237
-34.81%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$13.88 SEK 132
-53.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$125 SEK 1,188
115.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$732 SEK 6,951
604.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$73.9 SEK 702
4.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$10.41 SEK 98.9
317.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$82.8 SEK 787
42.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$116 SEK 1,098
-2.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$825 SEK 7,841
-14.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$654 SEK 6,218
-29.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$1,419 SEK 13.5K
-7.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$1,083 SEK 10.3K
-29.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,522
$3,504 SEK 33.3K
-28.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,773
$3,134 SEK 29.8K
-54.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bålsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
$3,952 SEK 37.5K
-83.22%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Bålsta: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $825 in Bålsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 496% 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 $204 vs $308 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 34% 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 in Bålsta?
On paper, salaries run 496% lower in Bålsta. 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 compared to Bålsta?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $825 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 $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,596 in Bålsta – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Bålsta?
A monthly transit pass in Tbilisi runs roughly 398% 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 in Bålsta?
At $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,596 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 $1,191 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 34% less than in Bålsta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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