Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Barlad

For one person, living is cheaper in Barlad: $988 a month against $1,266 in Tbilisi, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,266
/mo nomad
Barlad
🇷🇴 Romania
$988
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tbilisi and in Barlad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tbilisi and in Barlad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Tbilisi vs $988 in Barlad, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $1,266
  • Barlad $988

A couple spends around $2,007 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,484 in Barlad, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,007
  • Barlad $1,484

A family of three spends $2,749 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,981 in Barlad, rent included.

  • Tbilisi $2,749
  • Barlad $1,981

Tbilisi costs about 28% more than Barlad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Tbilisi and Barlad are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, Barlad 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34 ₾29.37
$8.71 RON 41.66
30.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.05 ₾101
$38.72 RON 185
0.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 ₾24.94
$7.16 RON 34.23
34.50%
Cappuccino
$3.46 ₾8.96
$2.25 RON 10.78
53.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₾2.83
$1.85 RON 8.85
-41.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₾1.62
$1.45 RON 6.95
-56.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 ₾7.17
$2.07 RON 9.89
33.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.04
$2.25 RON 10.75
37.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 ₾5.82
$1.26 RON 6.03
78.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$0.99 RON 4.74
-19.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 ₾4.55
$1.57 RON 7.52
12.10%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.12
$2.99 RON 14.30
-8.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 ₾24.34
$7.76 RON 37.09
21.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.66 ₾17.24
$5.90 RON 28.20
12.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.92 ₾33.48
$8.48 RON 40.57
52.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.31
$1.04 RON 4.98
60.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.66
$1.62 RON 7.73
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 ₾4.98
$1.42 RON 6.78
35.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 ₾6.25
$1.74 RON 8.32
38.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ₾2.23
$0.82 RON 3.90
4.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ₾1.80
$0.74 RON 3.55
-6.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.63
$0.78 RON 3.72
79.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.71 RON 3.40
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 ₾9.09
$5.66 RON 27.07
-37.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾19.71
$6.82 RON 32.59
11.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₾4.21
$1.04 RON 4.97
56.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾5.99
$1.49 RON 7.15
55.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.50 RON 2.40
-26.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.67 ₾40.60
$22.40 RON 107
-30.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.95
$0.74 RON 3.55
54.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₾2.05
$0.72 RON 3.44
9.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.86 ₾30.73
$6.83 RON 32.67
73.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 ₾3.62
$1.73 RON 8.29
-19.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ₾64.2K
$26.2K RON 125.3K
-5.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K ₾56.6K
$25.1K RON 119.9K
-12.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾231
$122 RON 585
-27.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.21 ₾34.21
$8.49 RON 40.57
55.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.76 ₾51.2
$9.17 RON 43.84
115.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 ₾168
$35.86 RON 171
81.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.02 ₾49.28
$19.93 RON 95.3
-4.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 ₾17.03
$7.67 RON 36.66
-14.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ₾976
$478 RON 2,287
-21.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾28.0K
$7,146 RON 34.2K
51.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₾265
$51.9 RON 248
96.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70 ₾103
$35.20 RON 168
12.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$85.2 RON 407
38.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$77.7 RON 372
58.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$666 ₾1,725
$378 RON 1,808
76.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₾1,164
$323 RON 1,547
38.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,327
$680 RON 3,253
88.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 ₾2,305
$484 RON 2,312
83.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,425 ₾6,281
$1,563 RON 7,471
55.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,380 ₾3,576
$1,305 RON 6,239
5.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Barlad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$680 ₾1,761
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
6.97
81.06%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: October 12, 2026

Last update for Barlad: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
$449
Barlad
$323 28% $126
Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
$234
Barlad
$186 20.5% $48
Eating Out
Tbilisi
$188
Barlad
$146 22.2% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
$172
Barlad
$113 34.7% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
$122
Barlad
$140 14.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
$78
Barlad
$51 34.4% $27
Getting Around
Tbilisi
$22
Barlad
$29 29.2% $6.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Tbilisi versus $378 in Barlad. 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $39.00 in Barlad. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Tbilisi vs $186 in Barlad – so Barlad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇪 Tbilisi
🇷🇴 Barlad
🕒 Local time
17:50 5:50 PM
16:50 4:50 PM
1 h behind Tbilisi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,241,700 Capital
77,518
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to GEL – Georgian Lari Converter

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.89 GEL (1 GEL = 0.346 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 4.78 RON (1 RON = 0.209 USD). 1 EUR = 5.34 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tbilisi Barlad 1,460 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tbilisi
  • Barlad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Barlad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in Barlad compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Tbilisi, $988 in Barlad – roughly 28% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to Barlad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Tbilisi and $1,482 in Barlad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and Barlad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Barlad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Tbilisi and in Barlad?
Public transport costs about 43% less in Barlad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Barlad?
Kindergarten costs $377 per month in Tbilisi and $478 in Barlad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Barlad, where all-in costs run around $988, than in Tbilisi at $1,266. In Barlad 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 Barlad?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $988 in Barlad to $1,266 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or Barlad 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 Barlad?
If budget matters most, go with Barlad. 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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