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 $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $853 in Buff Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,412 in Buff Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,970 in Buff Bay, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 42% more than Buff Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tbilisi and Buff Bay are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 10% lower, Buff Bay 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₾28.70

$7.64 JMD 1,201

41.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.18 ₾115

$61.8 JMD 9,715

-30.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 ₾22.03

$4.86 JMD 765

70.58%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ₾7.96

$4.29 JMD 675

-30.07%

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

$0.82 ₾2.17

$0.79 JMD 124

3.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.21

$0.65 JMD 103

-29.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 ₾5.93

$1.93 JMD 304

15.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.75

$3.21 JMD 505

-9.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$4.19 JMD 659

-53.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.81

$3.58 JMD 563

-81.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.99

$1.63 JMD 256

15.34%

Eggs

$2.54 ₾6.73

$3.61 JMD 568

-29.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$11.18 JMD 1,758

-33.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ₾16.43

$6.18 JMD 972

0.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₾24.86

$7.59 JMD 1,194

23.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 ₾3.25

$6.14 JMD 965

-80.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₾4.40

$3.10 JMD 488

-46.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₾4.78

$4.23 JMD 666

-57.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₾5.96

$2.95 JMD 463

-24.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.89

$2.01 JMD 316

-64.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.99 JMD 313

-66.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.13

$3.02 JMD 475

-60.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₾1.76

$1.51 JMD 237

-56.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₾7.91

$8.54 JMD 1,344

-65.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 ₾20.21

$11.29 JMD 1,775

-32.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.08

$2.88 JMD 453

-46.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.98

$3.17 JMD 498

-29.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 ₾38.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ₾3.96

$1.07 JMD 169

39.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₾1.82

$3.12 JMD 491

-78.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 ₾19.19

$6.16 JMD 969

17.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.04

$1.23 JMD 194

-7.32%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-57.64%

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

$20.0K ₾53.0K

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

-40.22%

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

$73.7 ₾196

$164 JMD 25.7K

-54.94%

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

$11.64 ₾30.91

$22.27 JMD 3,502

-47.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.84 ₾47.39

$50.1 JMD 7,875

-64.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ₾160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ₾44.63

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₾17.54

$12.92 JMD 2,032

-48.92%

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

$266 ₾708

$227 JMD 35.7K

17.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 ₾13.8K

$2,479 JMD 389.8K

109.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾206

$26.59 JMD 4,181

192.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 ₾119

$25.86 JMD 4,066

73.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₾310

$71.8 JMD 11.3K

62.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾300

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

50.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,839

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,226

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 ₾3,505

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₾2,056

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,430 ₾6,455

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 ₾3,840

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ₾1,787

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

9.15

29.95%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Buff Bay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $62.0 in Buff Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $350 – 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: $1,209 in Tbilisi, $853 in Buff Bay – roughly 42% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $1,280 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 $1,209 in Tbilisi and $853 in Buff Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $227 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 $853, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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 $853 in Buff Bay to $1,209 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.