Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bistrita Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bistrita

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,178 per month in Tbilisi vs $913 in Bistrita, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,848 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,437 in Bistrita, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,518 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,961 in Bistrita, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 29% more than Bistrita, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Bistrita are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Bistrita 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.09 ₾29.35

$7.50 RON 33.77

47.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.24 ₾114

$45.20 RON 204

-4.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.55 ₾22.63

$6.88 RON 30.97

24.27%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.86

$2.82 RON 12.70

5.32%

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

$0.76 ₾2.01

$1.47 RON 6.60

-48.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$1.34 RON 6.03

-65.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ₾5.88

$2.82 RON 12.72

-21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.73

$2.73 RON 12.30

6.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ₾5.21

$1.51 RON 6.82

30.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.94

$1.21 RON 5.45

-39.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 ₾4.81

$1.18 RON 5.30

54.24%

Eggs

$2.49 ₾6.60

$3.26 RON 14.69

-23.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 ₾20.27

$6.82 RON 30.71

12.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.27 ₾16.59

$6.08 RON 27.37

3.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.50 ₾25.14

$9.06 RON 40.79

4.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ₾3.24

$1.18 RON 5.33

4.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.33

$1.52 RON 6.84

7.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.95

$1.72 RON 7.76

8.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₾6.02

$2.16 RON 9.72

5.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.77

$0.78 RON 3.50

-14.10%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$0.66 RON 2.96

1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ₾3.23

$1.05 RON 4.73

16.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.85

$0.94 RON 4.22

-25.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.73

$5.37 RON 24.17

-45.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 ₾20.42

$8.11 RON 36.53

-4.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.09

$1.04 RON 4.67

49.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₾5.86

$1.14 RON 5.12

94.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.44 RON 1.98

-11.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.67 ₾38.81

$22.75 RON 102

-35.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₾3.82

$0.64 RON 2.89

125.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$0.62 RON 2.77

11.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.37 ₾19.52

$7.05 RON 31.77

4.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.03

$1.51 RON 6.80

-24.50%

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

$18.2K ₾48.1K

$27.8K RON 125.1K

-34.63%

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

$20.4K ₾54.1K

$26.6K RON 119.7K

-23.10%

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

$73.6 ₾195

$141 RON 633

-47.61%

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

$11.64 ₾30.80

$7.88 RON 35.51

47.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.63 ₾46.65

$6.81 RON 30.66

158.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 ₾162

$46.72 RON 210

31.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.85 ₾44.59

$35.10 RON 158

-51.99%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 ₾17.71

$6.85 RON 30.84

-2.34%

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

$264 ₾699

$427 RON 1,923

-38.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,169 ₾13.7K

$6,924 RON 31.2K

-25.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 ₾199

$67.6 RON 304

11.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.26 ₾114

$34.93 RON 157

23.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾311

$69.6 RON 313

68.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾295

$93.4 RON 421

19.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 ₾1,868

$234 RON 1,053

201.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₾1,221

$200 RON 900

130.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,318 ₾3,488

$409 RON 1,840

222.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$781 ₾2,066

$332 RON 1,496

134.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 ₾6,517

$1,555 RON 7,001

58.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₾3,727

$1,204 RON 5,421

17.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$672 ₾1,779

$1,075 RON 4,842

-37.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

6.5

82.92%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Bistrita: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $706 in Tbilisi versus $234 in Bistrita. 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 60% higher in Bistrita, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $45.00 in Bistrita. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Tbilisi vs $199 in Bistrita – so Bistrita wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bistrita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 29% more than Bistrita, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,767 per month in Tbilisi and $1,370 in Bistrita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 4% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $45.00 in Bistrita. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bistrita, where all-in costs run around $913, than in Tbilisi at $1,178. In Bistrita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bistrita costs $913 versus $1,178 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Bistrita. 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.