😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $671 in Budaiya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,116 in Budaiya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,561 in Budaiya.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 76% more expensive than Budaiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Budaiya50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$5.39BHD 2.03
106.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$54.1BHD 20.34
-20.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$7.39BHD 2.78
11.23%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$4.95BHD 1.86
-36.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.77BHD 0.29
-3.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.28BHD 0.11
60.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$8.04BHD 3.02
-73.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$10.53BHD 3.96
-71.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.72BHD 0.65
9.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$1.28BHD 0.48
-42.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.15BHD 0.43
60.87%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$1.61BHD 0.61
52.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$2.62BHD 0.99
199.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$7.54BHD 2.84
-17.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$3.88BHD 1.46
151.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$2.33BHD 0.88
-48.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.01BHD 0.76
-20.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.75BHD 0.66
2.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.04BHD 0.39
123.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.82BHD 0.31
-13.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.08BHD 0.41
-37.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.31BHD 0.49
-9.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.55BHD 0.21
29.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$5.92BHD 2.22
-50.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$13.11BHD 4.93
-44.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.67BHD 0.63
-7.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.74BHD 0.65
32.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$2.59BHD 0.98
-42.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$2.67BHD 1.00
-74.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$27.01BHD 10.16
-72.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$0.39BHD 0.15
194.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$37.2KBHD 14.0K
-51.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$20.8KBHD 7,810
-4.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$90.8BHD 34.12
-19.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$27.04BHD 10.17
-56.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$26.69BHD 10.04
-33.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$7.79BHD 2.93
-16.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$390BHD 146
-32.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$8,774BHD 3,299
-41.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$46.33BHD 17.42
67.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$61.6BHD 23.16
-27.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$84.0BHD 31.60
40.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$86.9BHD 32.68
31.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Budaiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
-
-
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
Budaiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
8.56
38.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Budaiya: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $54.0 in Budaiya. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $189, with Budaiya 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 Budaiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Budaiya?
Budaiya wins on cost – living expenses run 76% 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 vs Budaiya?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,007 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 Budaiya?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Budaiya?
All in, you'll spend $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $671 in Budaiya – a 76% 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 Budaiya?
At $671 in Budaiya versus $1,185 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 $671 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 76% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.