Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bender Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bender

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $693 in Bender, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,001 in Bender, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,309 in Bender, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 80% more than Bender, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Bender are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Bender 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$6.66 MDL 115

70.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$19.03 MDL 330

103.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$5.70 MDL 98.9

67.02%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$1.25 MDL 21.70

172.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₾2.71

$1.02 MDL 17.61

1.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.54 MDL 9.30

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$0.93 MDL 16.16

180.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$1.71 MDL 29.71

89.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$0.94 MDL 16.28

130.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.48 MDL 8.29

54.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.42 MDL 24.59

20.42%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.03 MDL 35.19

39.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$3.93 MDL 68.2

134.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.47 MDL 77.6

51.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$5.34 MDL 92.6

139.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$0.84 MDL 14.60

95.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.81 MDL 31.45

-2.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.86 MDL 32.19

0.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.82 MDL 31.56

34.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.69 MDL 11.94

26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.52 MDL 9.07

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.60 MDL 10.33

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.78 MDL 13.58

-5.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$2.82 MDL 48.81

20.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$2.61 MDL 45.19

191.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$0.56 MDL 9.71

203.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.91 MDL 33.09

24.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.39 MDL 6.71

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$2.27 MDL 39.28

-48.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.30 MDL 5.21

153.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$5.13 MDL 88.9

121.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.40 MDL 24.35

-5.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$29.5K MDL 512.1K

-16.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$30.9K MDL 536.0K

-28.79%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 ₾231

$247 MDL 4,286

-64.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.33 ₾34.63

$9.67 MDL 168

37.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$10.74 MDL 186

87.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$8.42 MDL 146

-20.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$374 ₾971

$433 MDL 7,512

-13.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$6,060 MDL 105.0K

76.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$78.0 MDL 1,351

29.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$47.97 MDL 831

-18.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$120 MDL 2,075

-1.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$115 MDL 1,993

6.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$298 MDL 5,164

128.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$319 MDL 5,521

104.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

9.41

34.11%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bender: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $298 in Bender. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 105% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $19.00 in Bender. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $137 – making Bender the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bender: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,040 in Bender. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bender, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi and $19.00 in Bender. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bender, where all-in costs run around $693, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Bender it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bender – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bender. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.