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 $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,157 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,687 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,218 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 4% 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 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 ₾28.38

$8.76 BAM 15.01

23.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.85 ₾115

$42.44 BAM 72.7

3.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 ₾21.79

$8.89 BAM 15.22

-6.52%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.78

$1.64 BAM 2.80

81.10%

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

$0.77 ₾2.01

$2.02 BAM 3.45

-61.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.20

$1.21 BAM 2.08

-61.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ₾5.63

$2.03 BAM 3.48

5.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₾7.52

$2.83 BAM 4.84

1.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₾4.99

$1.37 BAM 2.34

38.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₾1.86

$1.29 BAM 2.21

-44.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 ₾5.00

$1.59 BAM 2.72

20.13%

Eggs

$2.48 ₾6.52

$2.99 BAM 5.12

-17.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 ₾20.29

$9.32 BAM 15.97

-16.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ₾16.20

$8.83 BAM 15.12

-30.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 ₾25.11

$12.25 BAM 20.98

-21.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ₾3.06

$1.46 BAM 2.50

-19.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₾4.34

$1.64 BAM 2.82

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.84

$1.92 BAM 3.29

-3.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₾6.11

$2.01 BAM 3.44

15.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.85

$1.20 BAM 2.06

-40.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.76

$1.24 BAM 2.13

-45.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.12

$1.27 BAM 2.18

-6.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.72

$0.73 BAM 1.25

-9.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.65

$3.85 BAM 6.60

-24.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.69 ₾20.17

$8.37 BAM 14.33

-8.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₾4.18

$0.75 BAM 1.29

112.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.06

$1.14 BAM 1.96

102.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.01

$1.43 BAM 2.44

-73.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.76 ₾38.71

$37.54 BAM 64.3

-60.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.92

$1.43 BAM 2.44

4.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$1.15 BAM 1.97

-40.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.26 ₾19.03

$8.77 BAM 15.03

-17.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.87

$1.48 BAM 2.54

-26.35%

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

$18.6K ₾48.8K

$29.1K BAM 49.8K

-35.95%

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

$20.5K ₾53.7K

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

-22.94%

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

$73.0 ₾191

$172 BAM 294

-57.44%

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

$11.97 ₾31.40

$18.77 BAM 32.15

-36.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ₾47.21

$23.79 BAM 40.74

-24.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 ₾160

$28.49 BAM 48.80

114.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 ₾43.33

$9.94 BAM 17.02

66.20%

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 ₾17.58

$4.82 BAM 8.26

39.00%

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

$269 ₾705

$239 BAM 410

12.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,152 ₾13.5K

$3,672 BAM 6,289

40.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 ₾201

$73.7 BAM 126

3.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 ₾114

$37.10 BAM 63.5

17.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₾316

$88.1 BAM 151

36.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾290

$123 BAM 211

-10.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$687 ₾1,802

$459 BAM 786

49.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₾1,234

$325 BAM 557

44.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 ₾3,549

$639 BAM 1,095

111.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,069

$467 BAM 800

68.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₾6,472

$2,982 BAM 5,107

-17.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 ₾3,817

$1,925 BAM 3,297

-24.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 ₾1,729

$893 BAM 1,529

-26.18%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $459 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 35% 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $42.00 in Banja Luka. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Tbilisi vs $231 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 4%, 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 $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $1,735 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 $44.00 in Tbilisi and $42.00 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 $1,157, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. 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.