Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Buzau Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Buzau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $1,115 in Buzau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,568 in Buzau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $2,020 in Buzau.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 7% more expensive than in Buzau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Buzau 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 ₾28.38
$12.27 RON 56.3
-11.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85 ₾115
$25.22 RON 116
73.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.31 ₾21.79
$5.79 RON 26.59
43.52%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ₾7.78
$2.81 RON 12.89
5.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₾2.01
$1.98 RON 9.09
-61.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.20
$1.58 RON 7.26
-70.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ₾5.63
$3.28 RON 15.07
-34.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₾7.52
$3.52 RON 16.16
-18.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₾4.99
$1.55 RON 7.13
22.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 ₾1.86
$1.36 RON 6.24
-47.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 ₾5.00
$1.70 RON 7.80
12.35%
Eggs
$2.48 ₾6.52
$3.35 RON 15.37
-25.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 ₾20.29
$8.70 RON 39.93
-11.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 ₾16.20
$6.59 RON 30.24
-6.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₾25.11
$10.03 RON 46.04
-4.59%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₾3.06
$0.96 RON 4.40
21.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₾4.34
$1.61 RON 7.37
2.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.84
$1.18 RON 5.42
56.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.11
$1.72 RON 7.89
35.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.85
$0.87 RON 4.00
-18.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.76
$1.06 RON 4.87
-36.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₾3.12
$0.61 RON 2.79
95.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.72
$0.59 RON 2.72
11.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.65
$5.59 RON 25.66
-47.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 ₾20.17
$6.59 RON 30.24
16.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.18
$1.05 RON 4.83
51.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.06
$1.68 RON 7.70
37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.01
$0.70 RON 3.21
-45.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 ₾38.71
$19.62 RON 90.1
-24.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾3.92
$0.69 RON 3.15
117.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$0.70 RON 3.22
-2.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 ₾19.03
$7.11 RON 32.64
2.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.87
$1.63 RON 7.49
-33.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ₾48.8K
$21.6K RON 98.9K
-13.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.7K
$22.7K RON 104.2K
-9.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 ₾191
$126 RON 577
-41.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97 ₾31.40
$6.41 RON 29.44
86.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ₾47.21
$8.76 RON 40.23
105.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 ₾160
$37.26 RON 171
63.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 ₾43.33
$19.99 RON 91.8
-17.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ₾17.58
$5.86 RON 26.90
14.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾705
$339 RON 1,554
-20.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,152 ₾13.5K
$6,608 RON 30.3K
-22.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5 ₾201
$61.4 RON 282
24.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 ₾114
$43.38 RON 199
0.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₾316
$96.7 RON 444
24.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾290
$96.7 RON 444
14.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 ₾1,802
$430 RON 1,975
59.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₾1,234
$369 RON 1,696
27.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 ₾3,549
$633 RON 2,908
113.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 ₾2,069
$462 RON 2,121
70.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 ₾6,472
$1,524 RON 6,995
61.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,456 ₾3,817
$1,220 RON 5,599
19.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 ₾1,729
$899 RON 4,127
-26.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7.7
54.42%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Buzau: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $430 in Buzau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buzau pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Buzau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $202 per month, with Buzau 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 Buzau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Buzau?
Tbilisi and Buzau differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $1,115 including rent). Buzau is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Buzau. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Buzau?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $430 in Buzau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Buzau – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,115 in Buzau versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Buzau but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Buzau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Buzau?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Buzau safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Buzau are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Buzau?
Expats usually find Buzau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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