😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $825 in Barbacena.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $1,248 in Barbacena.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $1,670 in Barbacena.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 55% more expensive than in Barbacena, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi7% lower, Barbacena40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43₾29.72
$5.39R$27.66
112.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16₾99.2
$20.08R$103
90.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₾24.45
$5.75R$29.49
63.48%
Cappuccino
$3.38₾8.78
$1.60R$8.19
111.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.70
$1.50R$7.70
-30.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₾1.56
$0.88R$4.53
-31.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71₾7.05
$1.28R$6.56
111.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04₾7.90
$2.10R$10.75
44.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27₾5.90
$1.14R$5.86
99.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.04
$2.01R$10.30
-60.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62₾4.21
$1.33R$6.80
21.80%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.13
$2.29R$11.72
19.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₾24.19
$10.65R$54.6
-12.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₾17.65
$4.21R$21.60
61.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.01₾33.84
$9.74R$49.94
33.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.27
$2.71R$13.91
-39.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₾4.77
$1.80R$9.22
1.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₾4.94
$1.60R$8.20
18.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57₾6.68
$1.73R$8.85
48.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₾2.19
$1.22R$6.26
-31.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.98R$5.05
-33.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₾3.54
$0.69R$3.56
97.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₾2.07
$0.63R$3.25
26.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₾8.85
$2.92R$14.95
16.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.67₾19.94
$7.59R$38.89
1.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.36
$1.11R$5.70
51.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.18
$2.55R$13.07
-6.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₾1.02
$1.00R$5.12
-61.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55₾40.44
$41.72R$214
-62.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₾2.96
$1.22R$6.23
-6.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.86R$4.42
-13.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.42
$8.82R$45.24
28.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₾3.60
$1.31R$6.70
5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾63.9K
$23.4KR$119.8K
5.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$32.1KR$164.6K
-31.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₾231
$128R$659
-30.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18₾34.26
$10.89R$55.8
21.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68₾51.2
$21.75R$111
-9.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3₾177
$24.64R$126
176.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94₾46.65
$26.88R$138
-33.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42₾16.70
$7.62R$39.06
-15.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372₾967
$541R$2,773
-31.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₾28.1K
$12.5KR$64.0K
-13.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₾272
$40.17R$206
160.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83₾101
$46.65R$239
-16.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₾299
$68.8R$353
67.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$64.8R$332
88.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681₾1,770
$222R$1,137
206.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,185
$163R$836
179.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312₾3,410
$412R$2,113
218.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892₾2,321
$301R$1,545
196.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391₾6,216
$1,633R$8,372
46.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,425₾3,704
$1,150R$5,898
23.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Barbacena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$640₾1,663
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
11.93
5.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Barbacena: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $222 in Barbacena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $20.00 in Barbacena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $209 per month, with Barbacena cheaper across the board.
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 Barbacena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Barbacena?
Tbilisi and Barbacena differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,279 vs $825 including rent). Barbacena is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Barbacena?
You'd need roughly $1,919 in Tbilisi and $1,238 in Barbacena to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Barbacena?
Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Tbilisi versus $222 in Barbacena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or Barbacena?
All in, you'll spend $1,279 per month in Tbilisi versus $825 in Barbacena – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and in Barbacena?
A monthly transit pass in Barbacena runs roughly 168% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $825 in Barbacena versus $1,279 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Barbacena but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Barbacena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Barbacena?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Barbacena safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Barbacena are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Barbacena?
Expats usually find Barbacena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.