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: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $3,606 in Basel.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $5,819 in Basel.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $8,033 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 170% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$31.16CHF 25.24
-65.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$154CHF 125
-71.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$19.41CHF 15.72
-57.19%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$6.73CHF 5.45
-55.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$5.46CHF 4.43
-85.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$5.21CHF 4.22
-91.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$9.65CHF 7.82
-77.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$7.31CHF 5.92
-60.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$2.21CHF 1.79
-14.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$3.87CHF 3.14
-81.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$5.19CHF 4.20
-63.20%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$7.82CHF 6.34
-68.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$28.51CHF 23.09
-72.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$36.76CHF 29.78
-83.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$44.22CHF 35.82
-78.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$3.91CHF 3.16
-70.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$2.74CHF 2.22
-39.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$4.18CHF 3.38
-55.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$6.99CHF 5.66
-66.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$3.26CHF 2.64
-78.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$2.98CHF 2.41
-77.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$2.52CHF 2.04
-52.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$1.49CHF 1.21
-55.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$11.83CHF 9.58
-75.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$13.68CHF 11.08
-43.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$2.42CHF 1.96
-34.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$3.04CHF 2.46
-24.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$4.76CHF 3.86
-92.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$105CHF 85.1
-85.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$7.92CHF 6.42
-81.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$4.36CHF 3.53
-84.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$87.4CHF 70.8
-91.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$2.20CHF 1.78
-50.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$40.8KCHF 33.0K
-54.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$45.1KCHF 36.6K
-54.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$302CHF 245
-75.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$54.0CHF 43.74
-77.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$58.9CHF 47.69
-69.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$90.9CHF 73.6
-32.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$41.38CHF 33.52
-60.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$23.17CHF 18.77
-71.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$2,533CHF 2,052
-89.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$33.8KCHF 27.4K
-84.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$135CHF 110
-43.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$87.6CHF 71.0
-50.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$180CHF 146
-33.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$230CHF 186
-51.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$2,103CHF 1,704
-67.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$1,511CHF 1,224
-68.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$3,742CHF 3,031
-63.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$2,829CHF 2,292
-72.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$18.8KCHF 15.2K
-86.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$14.6KCHF 11.8K
-90.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$7,175CHF 5,812
-90.81%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Basel: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $2,103 in Basel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Basel pays 989% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $154 in Basel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $692 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 201% 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 989% 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: $687 in Tbilisi versus $2,103 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 $269 in Tbilisi versus $2,533 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 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 in Basel?
At $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $3,606 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 $1,197 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 201% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.