Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and BaselCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Basel
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $3,653 in Basel.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $5,857 in Basel.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $8,062 in Basel.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 67% less than in Basel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Basel is 173% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.69
$30.72CHF 24.24
-64.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$156CHF 123
-72.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.02
$19.37CHF 15.28
-57.20%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$6.75CHF 5.33
-55.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$5.67CHF 4.47
-85.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$5.02CHF 3.96
-90.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$10.09CHF 7.96
-77.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.74
$7.45CHF 5.88
-60.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$2.24CHF 1.77
-13.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$3.73CHF 2.95
-81.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$4.99CHF 3.94
-62.32%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$8.16CHF 6.44
-68.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.69
$28.67CHF 22.62
-74.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$35.93CHF 28.36
-82.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$43.12CHF 34.03
-78.29%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$3.98CHF 3.14
-69.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.60CHF 2.05
-36.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$4.24CHF 3.35
-57.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.95
$6.96CHF 5.49
-67.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$3.23CHF 2.55
-78.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$2.94CHF 2.32
-77.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$2.51CHF 1.98
-52.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$1.55CHF 1.22
-57.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$11.68CHF 9.22
-74.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.20
$13.81CHF 10.90
-44.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$2.39CHF 1.89
-35.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$3.16CHF 2.49
-28.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$4.58CHF 3.61
-92.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.35
$105CHF 82.5
-86.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$7.99CHF 6.31
-81.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$4.31CHF 3.40
-84.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$87.2CHF 68.8
-91.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$2.23CHF 1.76
-48.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$40.4KCHF 31.9K
-54.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$44.3KCHF 35.0K
-54.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$306CHF 242
-75.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.90
$53.5CHF 42.24
-78.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.38
$58.9CHF 46.44
-69.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$90.3CHF 71.2
-33.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.62
$42.50CHF 33.54
-60.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$22.72CHF 17.93
-70.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾707
$2,574CHF 2,031
-89.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$34.0KCHF 26.8K
-84.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$134CHF 105
-41.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$88.3CHF 69.7
-49.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$181CHF 143
-35.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$227CHF 179
-50.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$2,112CHF 1,666
-67.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$1,519CHF 1,199
-69.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,504
$3,828CHF 3,021
-65.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$2,802CHF 2,211
-72.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,454
$19.1KCHF 15.1K
-87.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,839
$14.2KCHF 11.2K
-89.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,786
$8,292CHF 6,544
-91.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
2.55
366.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Basel: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $2,112 in Basel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Basel pays 1132% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $156 in Basel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $685 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Basel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Basel?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 202% lower than in Basel. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Basel?
On paper, Basel earns 1132% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Basel?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $2,112 in Basel. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Basel?
Childcare runs $266 in Tbilisi versus $2,574 in Basel. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Basel?
Supermarket bills run roughly 237% higher in Basel. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Basel?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $3,653 in Basel, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Basel. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Basel?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,209 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Basel?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Basel are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 202% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.