😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $575 in Bandarawela, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $929 in Bandarawela, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,283 in Bandarawela, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 110% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tbilisi and Bandarawela are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Bandarawela57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$3.96LKR 1,315
172.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$25.10LKR 8,323
72.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$8.29LKR 2,748
-
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$2.62LKR 869
14.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.74LKR 246
10.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.40LKR 134
15.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.28LKR 758
-2.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$3.29LKR 1,091
-11.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.76LKR 584
9.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.56LKR 187
21.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$0.88LKR 292
113.64%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$2.15LKR 712
18.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$13.85LKR 4,591
-46.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$4.70LKR 1,558
31.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$8.11LKR 2,689
15.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$7.53LKR 2,497
-83.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.08LKR 357
53.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$5.94LKR 1,968
-69.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.22LKR 404
83.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.15LKR 380
-38.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.40LKR 465
-52.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.19LKR 395
-0.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.60LKR 200
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$10.13LKR 3,360
-70.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$12.70LKR 4,210
-40.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$2.07LKR 688
-25.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$2.86LKR 948
-21.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.16LKR 54.0
125.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$1.66LKR 550
769.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$0.41LKR 136
263.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.35LKR 117
94.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$0.48LKR 158
1406.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$1.08LKR 357
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$26.4KLKR 8.8M
-30.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$35.2KLKR 11.7M
-43.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$60.9LKR 20.2K
20.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$4.41LKR 1,464
163.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$15.27LKR 5,063
16.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$4.96LKR 1,644
1112.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$3.28LKR 1,088
101.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$36.34LKR 12.0K
633.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$446LKR 147.9K
1063.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$27.15LKR 9,001
186.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$19.33LKR 6,410
131.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$69.1LKR 22.9K
68.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$39.27LKR 13.0K
187.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$99.0LKR 32.8K
599.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$51.2LKR 17.0K
801.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$135LKR 44.9K
875.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$66.3LKR 22.0K
1067.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
16.45
-27.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Bandarawela: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $99.0 in Bandarawela. 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 $25.00 in Bandarawela. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $258 in Bandarawela – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Bandarawela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and Bandarawela compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $575 in Bandarawela – roughly 110% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Bandarawela?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $862 in Bandarawela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Bandarawela?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandarawela, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Bandarawela?
Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $36.34 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bandarawela, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Bandarawela it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Bandarawela?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $575 in Bandarawela to $1,209 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Bandarawela safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and Bandarawela?
If budget matters most, go with Bandarawela. 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.