Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,666 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,657 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,649 in Budapest, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 25% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Tbilisi sits 9% below the global median, while Budapest is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$14.41 Ft 4,561

-21.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$63.2 Ft 20.0K

-38.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$11.21 Ft 3,550

-15.08%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$3.56 Ft 1,126

-4.21%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$2.16 Ft 683

-51.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$2.01 Ft 635

-68.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.80

$3.85 Ft 1,217

-32.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$3.84 Ft 1,214

-15.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.25 Ft 395

73.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$1.87 Ft 592

-60.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$2.55 Ft 807

-32.94%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$4.10 Ft 1,299

-30.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.96

$11.93 Ft 3,778

-22.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.56

$6.88 Ft 2,177

-1.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.18

$15.30 Ft 4,845

-16.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$2.00 Ft 632

-18.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$2.19 Ft 692

-19.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$2.52 Ft 798

-25.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.35

$4.14 Ft 1,311

-41.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.00 Ft 316

-13.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.03 Ft 325

-36.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$1.67 Ft 530

-16.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.70 Ft 221

5.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$8.18 Ft 2,589

-58.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.76

$6.31 Ft 1,996

20.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.31 Ft 415

29.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$2.11 Ft 666

12.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$1.57 Ft 496

-77.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.61

$28.14 Ft 8,907

-45.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$3.50 Ft 1,107

-66.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$1.35 Ft 428

-43.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$20.69 Ft 6,549

-45.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.94 Ft 614

-31.44%

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

$24.7K ₾64.3K

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

-21.65%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$34.6K Ft 11.0M

-36.36%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$174 Ft 55.1K

-48.93%

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

$13.33 ₾34.64

$25.89 Ft 8,195

-48.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$24.46 Ft 7,743

-17.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$70.3 Ft 22.2K

-2.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.02

$19.50 Ft 6,173

-7.23%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$9.59 Ft 3,036

-29.93%

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

$374 ₾971

$555 Ft 175.7K

-32.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$17.5K Ft 5.5M

-38.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$105 Ft 33.3K

-3.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$43.79 Ft 13.9K

-10.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$117 Ft 37.2K

0.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$121 Ft 38.4K

0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$860 Ft 272.2K

-20.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$655 Ft 207.4K

-30.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,386

$1,690 Ft 535.1K

-22.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,338

$1,262 Ft 399.5K

-28.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,366

$5,865 Ft 1.9M

-58.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,775

$4,017 Ft 1.3M

-63.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$1,735 Ft 549.1K

-62.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

6.56

92.38%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Budapest: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $860 in Budapest. 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 166% higher in Budapest, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $271 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $2,499 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 85% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $374 per month in Tbilisi and $555 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Budapest at $1,666. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budapest makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.