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: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,096 in Buzau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,581 in Buzau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $2,066 in Buzau.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 10% more expensive than Buzau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Buzau 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.71
$12.14 RON 54.9
-11.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$24.99 RON 113
72.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.04
$5.89 RON 26.62
40.75%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.97
$2.70 RON 12.20
11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$1.98 RON 8.97
-58.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$1.57 RON 7.11
-70.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$3.28 RON 14.83
-32.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$3.47 RON 15.69
-15.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$1.47 RON 6.66
31.29%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.35 RON 6.12
-49.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾5.00
$1.78 RON 8.04
5.62%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.74
$3.35 RON 15.14
-24.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$8.74 RON 39.51
-15.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.44
$6.94 RON 31.35
-10.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.87
$10.24 RON 46.27
-8.59%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$0.89 RON 4.04
37.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.54 RON 6.97
7.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.18 RON 5.34
52.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$1.75 RON 7.91
28.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$0.87 RON 3.95
-18.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.07 RON 4.82
-37.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$0.60 RON 2.73
96.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.61 RON 2.74
8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$5.60 RON 25.33
-46.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.22
$6.60 RON 29.85
15.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.06 RON 4.80
45.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.99
$1.71 RON 7.75
31.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.67 RON 3.05
-46.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.38
$19.34 RON 87.4
-25.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.97
$0.65 RON 2.93
129.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.75 RON 3.40
-9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.20
$6.95 RON 31.41
4.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$1.64 RON 7.40
-30.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$21.1K RON 95.2K
-12.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.1K
$23.4K RON 105.6K
-14.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$125 RON 566
-41.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.92
$6.43 RON 29.08
81.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.41
$9.05 RON 40.93
97.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$37.13 RON 168
61.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.65
$20.02 RON 90.5
-16.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.55
$5.93 RON 26.79
11.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$334 RON 1,512
-20.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$6,544 RON 29.6K
-20.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$60.8 RON 275
27.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$43.04 RON 195
3.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$94.9 RON 429
23.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$98.9 RON 447
14.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,840
$445 RON 2,010
55.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,227
$364 RON 1,643
27.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,507
$622 RON 2,813
112.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,057
$470 RON 2,123
64.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,458
$1,555 RON 7,029
56.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,842
$1,217 RON 5,501
18.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Buzau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,788
$902 RON 4,076
-25.38%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Buzau: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $445 in Buzau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buzau pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Buzau. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $204, with Tbilisi 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 Buzau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and Buzau?
Tbilisi and Buzau differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $1,096 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, Buzau earns 34% less. 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 Buzau?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $445 in Buzau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Buzau – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 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 $1,096 in Buzau versus $1,209 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 10% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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