🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,533 in Chalcis.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $2,251 in Chalcis.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $2,968 in Chalcis.
🙂Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 21% less than in Chalcis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 10% below, Chalcis is 14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$13.34€11.47
-19.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$49.36€42.46
-12.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$9.31€8.01
-10.96%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$4.10€3.53
-26.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$1.63€1.41
-49.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.61€0.52
-24.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$3.42€2.94
-34.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$4.12€3.54
-29.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.49€1.28
29.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$1.61€1.39
-57.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$2.07€1.78
-9.18%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$4.22€3.63
-39.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$13.83€11.90
-46.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$9.65€8.30
-35.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$13.38€11.51
-30.04%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$1.98€1.71
-38.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.87€1.60
-11.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$1.08€0.93
66.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.02€1.74
10.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.09€0.94
-34.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.22€1.05
-45.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.99€0.85
19.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.45€0.39
46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$4.84€4.16
-38.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$6.45€5.55
17.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.61€1.39
-4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$2.44€2.10
-7.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$1.40€1.20
-74.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$46.47€39.98
-68.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$4.66€4.01
-68.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$1.06€0.91
-35.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$13.86€11.92
-47.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$2.07€1.78
-44.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$34.7K€29.8K
-46.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$29.1K€25.0K
-31.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$292€251
-74.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$23.45€20.17
-50.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$31.73€27.30
-43.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$68.5€58.9
-12.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$9.91€8.53
-33.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$295€254
-9.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$5,600€4,817
-7.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$109€94.2
-29.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$38.83€33.40
15.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$101€87.0
15.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$96.7€83.2
16.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$515€443
34.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$375€322
23.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$805€693
63.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
$589€507
31.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
$2,599€2,235
-6.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
$2,072€1,783
-30.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Chalcis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$1,079€928
-37.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.34
173.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chalcis: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $515 in Chalcis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chalcis pays 60% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $49.00 in Chalcis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $263 per month, with Tbilisi 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 Chalcis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chalcis cheaper than Tbilisi?
Tbilisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tbilisi or Chalcis?
On paper, Chalcis earns 60% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tbilisi and Chalcis?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $515 in Chalcis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Chalcis?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Chalcis. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Chalcis?
Dining out is cheaper in Tbilisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $49.00 in Chalcis. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Chalcis?
At $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $1,533 in Chalcis, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Chalcis. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or Chalcis more family-friendly?
For families, Tbilisi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chalcis, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Chalcis?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Chalcis are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Chalcis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.