😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $836 in Budaiya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,319 in Budaiya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,803 in Budaiya.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 49% more expensive than in Budaiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Budaiya39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$6.50BHD 2.45
74.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$53.1BHD 20.00
-27.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$6.71BHD 2.53
41.88%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$4.91BHD 1.85
-30.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$0.89BHD 0.33
16.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.28BHD 0.11
128.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$6.65BHD 2.51
-60.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$9.98BHD 3.76
-67.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.46BHD 0.55
48.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$1.05BHD 0.39
-29.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$2.25BHD 0.85
-24.00%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$2.29BHD 0.86
23.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$8.90BHD 3.36
3.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$6.48BHD 2.44
4.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$8.47BHD 3.19
50.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$2.31BHD 0.87
-29.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$2.34BHD 0.88
-24.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$1.90BHD 0.71
-1.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$1.38BHD 0.52
76.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$1.06BHD 0.40
-17.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$1.37BHD 0.52
-52.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$1.58BHD 0.59
-11.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.78BHD 0.30
-5.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$5.16BHD 1.95
-33.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$18.69BHD 7.05
-59.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$3.47BHD 1.31
-51.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$2.71BHD 1.02
-12.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$5.24BHD 1.97
-77.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$3.38BHD 1.27
-77.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$16.10BHD 6.07
-29.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$0.64BHD 0.24
107.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$36.7KBHD 13.8K
-32.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$20.7KBHD 7,797
6.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$151BHD 56.8
-41.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$24.91BHD 9.39
-46.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$35.67BHD 13.44
-43.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$10.43BHD 3.93
-35.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$481BHD 181
-22.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$11.2KBHD 4,214
-4.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$50.2BHD 18.91
101.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$57.7BHD 21.75
-31.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$89.4BHD 33.68
31.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$91.2BHD 34.36
34.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
-
-
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
6.21
103.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Budaiya: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $53.0 in Budaiya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $250 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Budaiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Budaiya?
Budaiya wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Budaiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Budaiya?
You'd need roughly $1,870 in Tbilisi and $1,254 in Budaiya 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or in Budaiya?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Budaiya?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $836 in Budaiya – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Budaiya?
At $836 in Budaiya versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Budaiya but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Budaiya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Budaiya?
Both work as nomad bases, but Budaiya delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $836 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Budaiya hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Budaiya?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Budaiya 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Budaiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.