Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bandarawela Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bandarawela

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,279 per month in Tbilisi vs $499 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Tbilisi vs $803 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,106 in Bandarawela, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 156% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Bandarawela are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 7% lower, Bandarawela 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43 ₾29.72
$1.34 LKR 439
752.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16 ₾99.2
$26.43 LKR 8,685
44.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 ₾24.45
$7.76 LKR 2,549
21.13%
Cappuccino
$3.38 ₾8.78
$1.48 LKR 488
128.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.70
$0.64 LKR 210
62.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₾1.56
$0.27 LKR 88.8
122.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 ₾7.05
$2.19 LKR 721
23.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ₾7.90
$2.50 LKR 822
21.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 ₾5.90
$1.65 LKR 541
37.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 ₾2.04
$0.36 LKR 117
119.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.21
$0.61 LKR 201
165.57%
Eggs
$2.74 ₾7.13
$1.08 LKR 355
153.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 ₾24.19
$13.06 LKR 4,292
-28.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 ₾17.65
$3.60 LKR 1,182
88.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 ₾33.84
$7.30 LKR 2,399
78.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.27
$6.74 LKR 2,215
-75.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₾4.77
$0.59 LKR 194
210.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 ₾4.94
$4.38 LKR 1,440
-56.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 ₾6.68
$1.23 LKR 405
108.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.19
$0.89 LKR 293
-5.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$0.57 LKR 187
14.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ₾3.54
$0.88 LKR 290
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$0.48 LKR 159
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 ₾8.85
$9.65 LKR 3,172
-64.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 ₾19.94
$13.56 LKR 4,455
-43.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₾4.36
$1.95 LKR 642
-13.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.18
$2.89 LKR 950
-17.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$0.14 LKR 46.58
178.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.55 ₾40.44
$1.50 LKR 492
936.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.96
$0.39 LKR 127
192.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.29 LKR 94.8
155.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.32 ₾29.42
$0.48 LKR 156
2258.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₾3.60
$0.91 LKR 301
51.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.9K
$30.4K LKR 10.0M
-19.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$42.0K LKR 13.8M
-47.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 ₾231
$54.6 LKR 17.9K
62.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18 ₾34.26
$3.39 LKR 1,114
288.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68 ₾51.2
$6.03 LKR 1,982
226.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ₾177
$6.20 LKR 2,036
1000.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94 ₾46.65
$4.58 LKR 1,506
291.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ₾16.70
$2.50 LKR 822
156.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$372 ₾967
$37.96 LKR 12.5K
879.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾28.1K
$1,236 LKR 406.3K
774.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 ₾272
$19.90 LKR 6,538
425.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83 ₾101
$16.75 LKR 5,505
131.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₾299
$80.5 LKR 26.5K
42.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$43.25 LKR 14.2K
182.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 ₾1,770
$89.7 LKR 29.5K
658.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,185
$45.92 LKR 15.1K
892.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 ₾3,410
$124 LKR 40.9K
954.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 ₾2,321
$59.8 LKR 19.6K
1392.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,391 ₾6,216
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,425 ₾3,704
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bandarawela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 ₾1,663
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
12.69
-0.55%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $681 in Tbilisi versus $89.7 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 $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $26.00 in Bandarawela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $223 – making Bandarawela 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 Bandarawela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Bandarawela compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi, $499 in Bandarawela – roughly 156% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Bandarawela?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,919 per month in Tbilisi and $748 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 $372 per month in Tbilisi and $37.96 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?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $499, than in Tbilisi at $1,279. 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 $499 in Bandarawela to $1,279 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.

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