Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and BatamCost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Batam
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $664 in Batam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,132 in Batam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,600 in Batam.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 82% more expensive than Batam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Batam50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$2.78Rp 49.8K
288.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$9.36Rp 167.7K
361.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$3.63Rp 65.1K
128.37%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$2.11Rp 37.9K
42.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.28Rp 23.0K
-35.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.41Rp 7,417
12.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-20.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$4.06Rp 72.8K
-28.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.20Rp 21.5K
60.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.20Rp 21.6K
-43.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$0.86Rp 15.4K
118.60%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$1.35Rp 24.2K
88.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$8.05Rp 144.4K
-7.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$2.65Rp 47.5K
133.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$4.91Rp 88.1K
90.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.39Rp 42.9K
-48.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.18Rp 39.2K
-23.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.23Rp 39.9K
-19.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$1.15Rp 20.6K
94.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.99Rp 17.8K
-28.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$2.10Rp 37.6K
-68.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$1.46Rp 26.1K
-19.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.40Rp 7,145
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$2.74Rp 49.2K
8.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$14.28Rp 255.9K
-46.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.95Rp 35.0K
-21.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$2.61Rp 46.7K
-13.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.47Rp 8,359
-23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$16.67Rp 298.8K
-13.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$1.21Rp 21.6K
23.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.63Rp 11.4K
7.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$3.74Rp 67.0K
93.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.76Rp 13.6K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$29.8KRp 533.5M
-37.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$18.7KRp 335.2M
6.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$75.5Rp 1.4M
-2.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$4.13Rp 74.1K
181.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$25.19Rp 451.5K
-29.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$29.45Rp 527.9K
104.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$8.27Rp 148.3K
103.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$3.12Rp 56.0K
111.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$91.3Rp 1.6M
191.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$3,649Rp 65.4M
42.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$35.38Rp 634.1K
119.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$20.60Rp 369.3K
117.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$71.9Rp 1.3M
62.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$26.15Rp 468.7K
331.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$300Rp 5.4M
131.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$161Rp 2.9M
186.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$915Rp 16.4M
44.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$556Rp 10.0M
39.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$563Rp 10.1M
332.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Batam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$346Rp 6.2M
94.25%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Batam: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $300 in Batam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 94% 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 $9.00 in Batam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $186 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 82% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Batam?
Tbilisi pays 94% more on average, 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $300 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 $266 in Tbilisi versus $91.3 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 Tbilisi or Batam?
At $664 in Batam versus $1,209 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 82% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.