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: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $3,730 in Basel.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,854 in Tbilisi versus $5,810 in Basel.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Tbilisi versus $7,891 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 177% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78 ₾29.00
$31.10 CHF 24.35
-65.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.10 ₾116
$154 CHF 121
-72.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.27 ₾22.24
$19.39 CHF 15.18
-57.35%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ₾7.94
$6.74 CHF 5.27
-56.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₾2.05
$5.71 CHF 4.47
-86.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.13
$5.26 CHF 4.12
-92.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ₾6.03
$10.05 CHF 7.87
-77.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.71
$7.61 CHF 5.96
-62.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.19
$2.14 CHF 1.68
-9.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.84
$3.85 CHF 3.01
-82.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.97
$5.07 CHF 3.97
-63.51%
Eggs
$2.49 ₾6.69
$7.82 CHF 6.12
-68.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 ₾20.27
$28.16 CHF 22.05
-73.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 ₾17.09
$37.35 CHF 29.24
-83.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.43 ₾25.38
$43.13 CHF 33.77
-78.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$3.87 CHF 3.03
-69.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 ₾4.26
$2.66 CHF 2.08
-40.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 ₾5.00
$4.06 CHF 3.18
-54.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾6.03
$6.96 CHF 5.45
-67.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₾1.79
$3.21 CHF 2.52
-79.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 ₾1.83
$2.95 CHF 2.31
-76.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.17
$2.62 CHF 2.05
-54.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.77
$1.56 CHF 1.22
-57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 ₾8.25
$11.90 CHF 9.32
-74.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.56 ₾20.34
$15.30 CHF 11.98
-50.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₾4.08
$2.38 CHF 1.87
-36.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₾6.15
$3.11 CHF 2.44
-26.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₾0.95
$4.77 CHF 3.74
-92.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.79 ₾39.78
$107 CHF 83.6
-86.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.45 ₾3.90
$7.94 CHF 6.22
-81.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$4.26 CHF 3.34
-82.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.35 ₾19.78
$87.2 CHF 68.3
-91.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.93
$2.23 CHF 1.75
-51.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K ₾49.5K
$41.1K CHF 32.2K
-55.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₾54.5K
$45.3K CHF 35.4K
-55.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.3 ₾197
$301 CHF 236
-75.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.72 ₾31.53
$54.2 CHF 42.45
-78.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.87 ₾48.08
$60.3 CHF 47.18
-70.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 ₾165
$91.8 CHF 71.9
-33.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.34 ₾43.94
$42.35 CHF 33.16
-61.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 ₾17.73
$22.73 CHF 17.80
-71.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 ₾702
$2,621 CHF 2,052
-90.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,156 ₾13.9K
$34.5K CHF 27.0K
-85.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1 ₾205
$135 CHF 106
-43.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.83 ₾118
$87.6 CHF 68.6
-49.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 ₾325
$175 CHF 137
-30.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾304
$228 CHF 179
-50.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$696 ₾1,873
$2,137 CHF 1,673
-67.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,226
$1,462 CHF 1,145
-68.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 ₾3,500
$3,717 CHF 2,910
-64.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$768 ₾2,067
$2,837 CHF 2,221
-72.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,500 ₾6,725
$17.4K CHF 13.6K
-85.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,432 ₾3,853
$13.5K CHF 10.6K
-89.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$653 ₾1,756
$7,891 CHF 6,179
-91.73%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Basel: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $696 in Tbilisi and $2,137 in Basel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basel pays 1109% 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 in Tbilisi vs $154 in Basel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 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 206% 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 1109% 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: $696 in Tbilisi versus $2,137 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 $261 in Tbilisi versus $2,621 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 240% 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 $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $3,730 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 $1,218 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 206% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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