Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Basel Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Basel

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $3,544 in Basel.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Tbilisi versus $5,518 in Basel.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Tbilisi versus $7,492 in Basel.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 64% less than in Basel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 7% below, Basel is 157% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.43 ₾29.72
$29.93 CHF 24.44
-61.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16 ₾99.2
$125 CHF 102
-69.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 ₾24.45
$18.69 CHF 15.26
-49.71%
Cappuccino
$3.38 ₾8.78
$6.73 CHF 5.49
-49.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.70
$6.33 CHF 5.17
-83.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₾1.56
$5.86 CHF 4.78
-89.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 ₾7.05
$9.34 CHF 7.62
-70.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ₾7.90
$10.07 CHF 8.22
-69.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 ₾5.90
$2.32 CHF 1.89
-2.16%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 ₾2.04
$3.05 CHF 2.49
-74.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.21
$3.32 CHF 2.71
-51.20%
Eggs
$2.74 ₾7.13
$8.34 CHF 6.81
-67.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 ₾24.19
$26.21 CHF 21.41
-64.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 ₾17.65
$27.85 CHF 22.74
-75.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 ₾33.84
$42.56 CHF 34.75
-69.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.27
$3.66 CHF 2.99
-55.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₾4.77
$2.40 CHF 1.96
-23.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 ₾4.94
$2.99 CHF 2.44
-36.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 ₾6.68
$4.83 CHF 3.95
-46.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₾2.19
$1.79 CHF 1.46
-53.07%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.95 CHF 1.59
-66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ₾3.54
$2.33 CHF 1.90
-41.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$1.66 CHF 1.36
-51.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 ₾8.85
$11.63 CHF 9.50
-70.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 ₾19.94
$12.24 CHF 10.00
-37.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₾4.36
$2.49 CHF 2.03
-32.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.18
$3.18 CHF 2.59
-25.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₾1.02
$4.44 CHF 3.63
-91.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.55 ₾40.44
$108 CHF 88.3
-85.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ₾2.96
$7.99 CHF 6.52
-85.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$4.59 CHF 3.75
-83.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.32 ₾29.42
$88.0 CHF 71.9
-87.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₾3.60
$2.29 CHF 1.87
-39.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ₾63.9K
$44.2K CHF 36.1K
-44.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$39.6K CHF 32.4K
-44.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 ₾231
$299 CHF 244
-70.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18 ₾34.26
$53.3 CHF 43.50
-75.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.68 ₾51.2
$66.0 CHF 53.9
-70.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ₾177
$85.8 CHF 70.1
-20.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94 ₾46.65
$59.0 CHF 48.20
-69.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ₾16.70
$23.81 CHF 19.45
-73.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$372 ₾967
$3,026 CHF 2,471
-87.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K ₾28.1K
$33.3K CHF 27.2K
-67.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 ₾272
$147 CHF 120
-28.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83 ₾101
$81.6 CHF 66.7
-52.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₾299
$164 CHF 134
-29.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$199 CHF 162
-38.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 ₾1,770
$2,141 CHF 1,748
-68.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,185
$1,528 CHF 1,248
-70.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 ₾3,410
$3,615 CHF 2,952
-63.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 ₾2,321
$2,890 CHF 2,360
-69.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,391 ₾6,216
$18.4K CHF 15.0K
-87.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,425 ₾3,704
$14.5K CHF 11.9K
-90.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 ₾1,663
$7,336 CHF 5,990
-91.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
2.43
419.34%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Basel: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Tbilisi and $2,141 in Basel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basel pays 1047% 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: $38.00 in Tbilisi vs $125 in Basel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $597 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 177% 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 in Basel?
On paper, salaries run 1047% lower in Basel. 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 compared to Basel?
Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Tbilisi versus $2,141 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 in Basel?
Childcare runs $372 in Tbilisi versus $3,026 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 in Basel?
Supermarket bills run roughly 153% 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 in Basel?
At $1,279 in Tbilisi versus $3,544 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 $1,279 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 177% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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