Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Balti Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Balti

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $995 in Balti, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,473 in Balti, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,951 in Balti, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 29% more than Balti, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Balti are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Balti 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₾29.72

$8.92 MDL 153

28.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ₾99.2

$23.46 MDL 403

62.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₾24.45

$11.10 MDL 190

-15.32%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₾8.78

$1.83 MDL 31.37

84.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.70

$1.13 MDL 19.42

-7.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₾1.56

$0.68 MDL 11.67

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 ₾7.05

$1.14 MDL 19.49

137.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₾7.90

$1.47 MDL 25.28

106.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₾5.90

$1.25 MDL 21.52

81.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ₾2.04

$0.51 MDL 8.80

54.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₾4.21

$1.64 MDL 28.15

-1.22%

Eggs

$2.74 ₾7.13

$2.32 MDL 39.81

18.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₾24.19

$7.03 MDL 121

32.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 ₾17.65

$4.91 MDL 84.3

38.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 ₾33.84

$6.55 MDL 112

98.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.27

$1.01 MDL 17.33

62.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₾4.77

$2.29 MDL 39.34

-20.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₾4.94

$1.96 MDL 33.71

-3.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ₾6.68

$2.48 MDL 42.49

3.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₾2.19

$0.79 MDL 13.49

6.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.54 MDL 9.22

20.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₾3.54

$0.48 MDL 8.22

183.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₾2.07

$0.56 MDL 9.62

42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₾8.85

$3.33 MDL 57.1

2.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 ₾19.94

$4.70 MDL 80.6

63.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₾4.36

$1.46 MDL 25.12

15.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.18

$2.05 MDL 35.13

16.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.33 MDL 5.74

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.55 ₾40.44

$17.12 MDL 294

-9.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₾2.96

$2.88 MDL 49.46

-60.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.25 MDL 4.24

196.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.32 ₾29.42

$5.78 MDL 99.1

95.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₾3.60

$1.54 MDL 26.37

-10.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.6K ₾63.9K

$34.4K MDL 589.9K

-28.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$24.8K MDL 425.4K

-11.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.7 ₾231

$234 MDL 4,023

-62.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.18 ₾34.26

$7.97 MDL 137

65.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.68 ₾51.2

$11.82 MDL 203

66.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ₾177

$37.25 MDL 639

83.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 ₾46.65

$16.09 MDL 276

11.50%

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 ₾16.70

$7.70 MDL 132

-16.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$372 ₾967

$115 MDL 1,981

222.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₾28.1K

$5,508 MDL 94.5K

96.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₾272

$45.71 MDL 784

128.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.83 ₾101

$35.11 MDL 603

10.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₾299

$57.3 MDL 984

100.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$51.6 MDL 886

136.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ₾1,770

$411 MDL 7,053

65.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,185

$291 MDL 4,992

56.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₾3,410

$700 MDL 12.0K

87.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₾2,321

$531 MDL 9,114

68.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,391 ₾6,216

$1,462 MDL 25.1K

63.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 ₾3,704

$1,026 MDL 17.6K

38.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 ₾1,663

$627 MDL 10.8K

2.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

57.75%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Balti: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $411 in Balti. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $23.00 in Balti. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $171 – making Balti 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 Balti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi, $995 in Balti – roughly 29% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $1,493 in Balti. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Balti, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $372 per month in Tbilisi and $115 in Balti. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Balti, where all-in costs run around $995, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. In Balti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $995 in Balti to $1,279 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Balti. 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.