😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $702 in Chernivtsi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,074 in Chernivtsi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $1,445 in Chernivtsi.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 73% more expensive than Chernivtsi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Chernivtsi48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$7.37₴331
47.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$24.00₴1,078
84.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$5.44₴244
52.21%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$0.99₴44.50
205.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$0.65₴29.04
16.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$0.46₴20.62
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$1.12₴50.2
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$1.35₴60.7
122.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.01₴45.33
91.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$0.70₴31.24
2.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.11₴49.82
65.77%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$1.58₴71.1
55.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$8.45₴380
-12.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$3.82₴172
69.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$5.50₴247
76.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$0.68₴30.60
76.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$1.47₴65.9
6.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.66₴74.5
7.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.66₴74.5
34.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$0.49₴22.07
32.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$0.53₴23.63
28.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$1.30₴58.4
-8.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.50₴22.37
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$2.43₴109
21.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$3.73₴168
96.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$0.80₴36.16
90.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$0.96₴42.93
134.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.35₴15.53
2.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$4.85₴218
201.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$1.78₴79.8
-15.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.25₴11.28
192.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$4.41₴198
68.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.37₴61.6
-16.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$18.7K₴840.3K
-1.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$22.1K₴994.9K
-8.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$88.4₴3,972
-16.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$4.44₴200
163.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$4.30₴193
322.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$21.79₴979
183.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$15.36₴690
8.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$4.88₴219
35.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$198₴8,886
33.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$4,471₴200.8K
15.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$49.00₴2,201
52.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$29.70₴1,334
48.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$67.5₴3,031
74.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$78.8₴3,541
44.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$285₴12.8K
142.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$214₴9,631
111.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$501₴22.5K
164.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$384₴17.2K
105.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$1,314₴59.0K
85.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$992₴44.6K
45.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Chernivtsi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$477₴21.4K
35.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
13.43
-11.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Chernivtsi: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $285 in Chernivtsi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 35% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $24.00 in Chernivtsi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $143 per month, with Chernivtsi 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 Chernivtsi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Chernivtsi?
Chernivtsi wins on cost – living expenses run 73% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chernivtsi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Chernivtsi?
Tbilisi pays 35% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Chernivtsi?
Rent for a central apartment: $692 in Tbilisi versus $285 in Chernivtsi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and Chernivtsi?
Childcare runs $264 in Tbilisi versus $198 in Chernivtsi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Chernivtsi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Chernivtsi?
At $702 in Chernivtsi versus $1,218 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chernivtsi but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Chernivtsi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Chernivtsi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chernivtsi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $702 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chernivtsi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Chernivtsi?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Chernivtsi 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chernivtsi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.