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 $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,266 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,923 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,579 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 2% cheaper than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tbilisi and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Banja Luka 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$10.16 BAM 17.33

11.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$51.1 BAM 87.1

-24.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$11.16 BAM 19.03

-14.70%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$1.84 BAM 3.15

85.33%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$2.59 BAM 4.41

-59.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$1.72 BAM 2.92

-62.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.53 BAM 4.32

3.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$3.60 BAM 6.13

-10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.42 BAM 2.41

52.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$1.25 BAM 2.14

-40.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.63 BAM 2.78

4.91%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.97 BAM 5.07

-4.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$9.71 BAM 16.56

-5.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$8.74 BAM 14.90

-22.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$14.61 BAM 24.91

-12.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$1.93 BAM 3.28

-15.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$2.04 BAM 3.47

-13.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$2.30 BAM 3.93

-18.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$2.19 BAM 3.73

11.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.07 BAM 1.82

-18.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.46 BAM 2.49

-55.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$1.21 BAM 2.06

15.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.87 BAM 1.48

-14.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$4.08 BAM 6.95

-16.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$8.48 BAM 14.46

-10.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.04 BAM 1.77

63.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.45 BAM 2.47

64.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$1.35 BAM 2.30

-73.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

$46.17 BAM 78.7

-66.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$1.73 BAM 2.96

-31.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$1.17 BAM 1.99

-35.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$17.37 BAM 29.61

-34.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.73 BAM 2.95

-23.12%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$31.6K BAM 53.8K

-21.69%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$21.8K BAM 37.2K

0.93%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$167 BAM 284

-46.68%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$17.00 BAM 28.98

-21.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$37.90 BAM 64.6

-46.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$39.72 BAM 67.7

72.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

$15.32 BAM 26.13

18.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$6.07 BAM 10.35

10.71%

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

$374 ₾971

$304 BAM 518

22.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$3,693 BAM 6,297

189.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$86.7 BAM 148

16.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$37.66 BAM 64.2

4.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$110 BAM 188

6.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$146 BAM 248

-16.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$480 BAM 819

42.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$324 BAM 552

41.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$721 BAM 1,229

80.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$494 BAM 842

82.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

$2,998 BAM 5,111

-18.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

$1,970 BAM 3,359

-26.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$905 BAM 1,542

-27.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

4.44

184.23%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $480 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 39% higher in Banja Luka, 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $51.0 in Banja Luka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $250 – making Tbilisi 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 Banja Luka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Banja Luka is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,900 in Banja Luka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 8% more in Banja Luka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi and $51.0 in Banja Luka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Banja Luka at $1,266. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Banja Luka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – 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 Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Banja Luka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.