Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Banja Luka Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Banja Luka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,133 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,675 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,217 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 7% more than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tbilisi and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Banja Luka 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.71

$8.90 BAM 14.95

21.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$41.26 BAM 69.3

4.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.04

$8.70 BAM 14.61

-4.71%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.97

$1.63 BAM 2.74

84.05%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$1.99 BAM 3.34

-58.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$1.15 BAM 1.93

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$2.02 BAM 3.40

10.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$2.72 BAM 4.57

7.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.12

$1.36 BAM 2.29

41.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$1.25 BAM 2.10

-45.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾5.00

$1.57 BAM 2.64

19.75%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.74

$2.88 BAM 4.83

-11.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$9.25 BAM 15.54

-19.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.44

$8.71 BAM 14.64

-28.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.87

$12.26 BAM 20.59

-23.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$1.40 BAM 2.34

-12.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$1.65 BAM 2.77

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$1.93 BAM 3.24

-6.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$2.03 BAM 3.41

10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$1.25 BAM 2.09

-43.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.26 BAM 2.11

-46.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$1.28 BAM 2.16

-7.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$0.77 BAM 1.29

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$3.72 BAM 6.25

-19.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.22

$8.36 BAM 14.04

-8.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$0.74 BAM 1.25

108.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.99

$1.10 BAM 1.84

104.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$1.36 BAM 2.29

-73.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.38

$36.41 BAM 61.2

-60.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.97

$1.49 BAM 2.50

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$1.10 BAM 1.84

-38.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.20

$8.94 BAM 15.02

-19.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.46 BAM 2.45

-21.92%

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

$18.5K ₾49.1K

$28.4K BAM 47.7K

-34.96%

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

$20.0K ₾53.1K

$26.9K BAM 45.2K

-25.84%

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

$73.7 ₾196

$174 BAM 292

-57.59%

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

$11.64 ₾30.92

$19.29 BAM 32.41

-39.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.41

$23.24 BAM 39.05

-23.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

$27.95 BAM 46.96

115.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.65

$9.92 BAM 16.66

69.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.55

$4.69 BAM 7.89

40.72%

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

$266 ₾708

$238 BAM 399

12.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$3,758 BAM 6,314

38.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$74.5 BAM 125

4.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$36.14 BAM 60.7

23.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$88.9 BAM 149

31.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$124 BAM 208

-8.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,840

$465 BAM 781

48.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,227

$322 BAM 542

43.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,507

$646 BAM 1,085

104.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,057

$477 BAM 802

62.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,458

$3,163 BAM 5,314

-23.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,842

$2,023 BAM 3,399

-28.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,788

$901 BAM 1,514

-25.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

5.02

136.85%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $465 in Banja Luka. 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 34% higher in Banja Luka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $41.00 in Banja Luka. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $230 in Banja Luka – 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 Banja Luka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,699 in Banja Luka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $41.00 in Banja Luka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banja Luka, where all-in costs run around $1,133, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Banja Luka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banja Luka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Banja Luka. 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.