Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Batam Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Batam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $660 in Batam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,103 in Batam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,546 in Batam.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 81% more expensive than in Batam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Batam 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$2.79 Rp 50.1K
287.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$9.30 Rp 167.2K
371.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$3.54 Rp 63.5K
134.75%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.21 Rp 39.7K
34.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$1.33 Rp 24.0K
-42.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$0.41 Rp 7,356
12.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$2.80 Rp 50.4K
-23.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$4.02 Rp 72.3K
-28.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
57.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
-41.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$0.85 Rp 15.3K
124.71%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
82.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
-4.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$2.66 Rp 47.7K
132.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$4.82 Rp 86.7K
98.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$2.38 Rp 42.7K
-50.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$2.26 Rp 40.6K
-26.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$2.18 Rp 39.2K
-15.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$1.10 Rp 19.8K
111.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-29.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
-68.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$1.46 Rp 26.3K
-18.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.40 Rp 7,100
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
10.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$13.68 Rp 245.8K
-43.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$1.97 Rp 35.5K
-19.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$2.64 Rp 47.4K
-12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.47 Rp 8,417
-19.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$16.91 Rp 303.8K
-12.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$1.26 Rp 22.6K
19.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.65 Rp 11.7K
4.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$3.72 Rp 66.9K
95.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
31.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$29.7K Rp 533.1M
-37.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$19.2K Rp 344.2M
6.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$77.8 Rp 1.4M
-6.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$3.96 Rp 71.2K
202.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$25.92 Rp 465.8K
-30.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$30.33 Rp 545.1K
101.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$8.04 Rp 144.6K
105.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$3.08 Rp 55.4K
117.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$93.3 Rp 1.7M
188.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$3,643 Rp 65.5M
41.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$35.31 Rp 634.6K
116.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$20.55 Rp 369.3K
111.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$72.4 Rp 1.3M
66.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$26.40 Rp 474.4K
318.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$294 Rp 5.3M
133.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$166 Rp 3.0M
182.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$890 Rp 16.0M
52.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$560 Rp 10.1M
40.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
$550 Rp 9.9M
348.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
$334 Rp 6.0M
97.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
13.88
-14.34%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Batam: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $294 in Batam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 97% 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 $9.00 in Batam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $185 per month, with Batam 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 Batam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Batam cheaper than Tbilisi?
Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Batam?
Average pay runs 97% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Batam?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $294 in Batam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Batam runs roughly 15% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $93.3 in Batam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Batam?
At $660 in Batam versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Batam but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Batam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Batam more family-friendly?
For families, Batam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Batam?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Batam 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities