Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Buff Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Buff Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $972 in Buff Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,612 in Buff Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,251 in Buff Bay, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 28% more than Buff Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Buff Bay are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Buff Bay 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.44

$10.98 JMD 1,721

3.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$74.7 JMD 11.7K

-48.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.72

$5.21 JMD 816

82.73%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$5.38 JMD 843

-36.62%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.75 JMD 117

38.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.60 JMD 94.5

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.89 JMD 296

38.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$3.22 JMD 505

0.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$4.13 JMD 647

-47.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$3.70 JMD 580

-80.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.64 JMD 257

4.27%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$3.66 JMD 574

-22.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$11.66 JMD 1,827

-20.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$6.21 JMD 973

8.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$10.42 JMD 1,634

22.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$6.01 JMD 941

-72.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$4.03 JMD 631

-56.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$7.44 JMD 1,166

-74.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$3.00 JMD 470

-18.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$3.32 JMD 520

-73.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$2.61 JMD 409

-75.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$3.01 JMD 472

-53.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$1.50 JMD 234

-50.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$9.27 JMD 1,453

-63.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$11.51 JMD 1,804

-33.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$2.85 JMD 447

-40.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$4.05 JMD 635

-41.23%

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

$1.22 JMD 191

-3.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$3.12 JMD 489

-75.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.46

$6.18 JMD 968

83.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.37 JMD 214

-2.92%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$44.6K JMD 7.0M

-44.58%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$32.3K JMD 5.1M

-31.83%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$178 JMD 27.9K

-50.17%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$29.06 JMD 4,555

-54.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$53.1 JMD 8,328

-62.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.00

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.45

$13.50 JMD 2,115

-50.22%

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

$374 ₾971

$358 JMD 56.1K

4.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$8,100 JMD 1.3M

32.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$24.04 JMD 3,767

321.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$31.34 JMD 4,912

25.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$77.2 JMD 12.1K

52.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$106 JMD 16.5K

15.92%

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 ₾3,384

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,364

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

9.45

33.54%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Buff Bay: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $75.0 in Buff Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $386 – 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 Buff Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi, $972 in Buff Bay – roughly 28% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,457 in Buff Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,247 in Tbilisi and $972 in Buff Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $374 per month in Tbilisi and $358 in Buff Bay. 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 Buff Bay, where all-in costs run around $972, than in Tbilisi at $1,247. In Buff Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $972 in Buff Bay to $1,247 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Buff Bay. 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.