😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $650 in Bentota.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $877 in Bentota.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,104 in Bentota.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 87% more expensive than Bentota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Bentota52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$3.96LKR 1,323
173.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$13.18LKR 4,395
235.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$8.27LKR 2,759
0.12%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$2.64LKR 879
14.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$0.73LKR 243
4.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.38LKR 126
21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$2.32LKR 775
-3.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$3.37LKR 1,124
-10.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.72LKR 573
12.21%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.52LKR 173
38.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$0.87LKR 289
111.49%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$2.13LKR 710
15.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$14.29LKR 4,768
-48.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$3.70LKR 1,235
75.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$4.99LKR 1,666
94.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$7.69LKR 2,564
-84.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$0.88LKR 292
77.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$5.66LKR 1,888
-68.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.03LKR 343
116.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$1.12LKR 372
-41.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.38LKR 460
-50.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$1.20LKR 401
-0.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.55LKR 185
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$9.86LKR 3,290
-70.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$12.57LKR 4,192
-41.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$2.10LKR 700
-27.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$2.89LKR 962
-22.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.20LKR 66.9
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$0.39LKR 129
284.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.33LKR 110
121.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$0.61LKR 204
1121.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.26LKR 421
-9.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$27.1KLKR 9.0M
-31.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$34.3KLKR 11.4M
-40.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$59.1LKR 19.7K
25.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$2.49LKR 831
370.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$10.17LKR 3,392
78.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$3.40LKR 1,134
94.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$36.38LKR 12.1K
626.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$441LKR 147.0K
1067.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$27.48LKR 9,166
172.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$19.29LKR 6,436
127.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$69.7LKR 23.2K
68.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$38.85LKR 13.0K
192.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$243LKR 80.9K
185.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$152LKR 50.8K
198.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
16.45
-27.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Bentota: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $243 in Bentota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $13.00 in Bentota. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $241, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
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 Bentota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bentota cheaper than Tbilisi?
Bentota is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,827 in Tbilisi and $975 in Bentota to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Bentota?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $243 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Bentota?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Tbilisi vs Bentota?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $650 in Bentota – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Bentota?
At $650 in Bentota versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bentota but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Bentota the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Bentota more family-friendly?
For families, Bentota 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 Bentota?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Bentota 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 Bentota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.