😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $655 in Bentota.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $874 in Bentota.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,093 in Bentota.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 81% more expensive than Bentota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Bentota51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$3.93LKR 1,254
183.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$13.29LKR 4,239
224.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$8.57LKR 2,734
-4.08%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.67LKR 851
17.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.74LKR 237
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.41LKR 130
9.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$2.30LKR 735
-7.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.42LKR 1,090
-12.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.78LKR 569
6.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.53LKR 168
37.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$0.88LKR 281
110.23%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.12LKR 675
15.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$13.82LKR 4,406
-43.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$3.59LKR 1,145
74.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$5.13LKR 1,637
90.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$7.43LKR 2,368
-83.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$0.88LKR 280
80.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$5.76LKR 1,838
-68.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.02LKR 325
127.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.15LKR 366
-38.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.36LKR 434
-50.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.15LKR 365
2.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.56LKR 180
26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$9.87LKR 3,146
-70.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$12.71LKR 4,052
-42.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$2.00LKR 637
-22.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.98LKR 951
-22.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.22LKR 69.6
72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$0.41LKR 132
260.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.33LKR 104
109.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$0.61LKR 195
1121.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.20LKR 382
-4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$27.2KLKR 8.7M
-33.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$34.2KLKR 10.9M
-42.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$60.9LKR 19.4K
20.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$2.48LKR 790
369.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$10.09LKR 3,219
76.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$3.29LKR 1,049
97.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$36.66LKR 11.7K
616.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$449LKR 143.2K
1043.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$27.82LKR 8,870
179.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$19.42LKR 6,194
128.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$69.1LKR 22.0K
70.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$38.52LKR 12.3K
196.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$241LKR 76.9K
187.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$150LKR 48.0K
207.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bentota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
-
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Bentota: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $241 in Bentota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $13.00 in Bentota. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $239, 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 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $982 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: $693 in Tbilisi versus $241 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 16% 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 $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $655 in Bentota – a 81% 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 $655 in Bentota versus $1,185 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 81% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.