😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,219 in Craiova.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,775 in Craiova.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $2,331 in Craiova.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 2% more expensive than in Craiova, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Craiova11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$7.47RON 34.28
51.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$37.52RON 172
3.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$7.73RON 35.45
23.16%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$2.87RON 13.18
18.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$2.31RON 10.59
-54.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$1.90RON 8.73
-66.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.45RON 11.26
6.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$3.61RON 16.58
-10.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.32RON 6.06
64.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$0.92RON 4.22
-19.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$1.50RON 6.86
14.00%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$3.44RON 15.77
-17.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$7.54RON 34.60
22.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$6.70RON 30.73
0.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$11.65RON 53.5
9.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$1.04RON 4.79
57.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.52RON 6.99
16.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$1.52RON 6.99
23.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$1.90RON 8.71
28.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$0.86RON 3.92
1.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$0.94RON 4.32
-30.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$0.77RON 3.51
81.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.74RON 3.38
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$6.70RON 30.75
-49.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$6.74RON 30.90
12.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.18RON 5.44
44.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$1.60RON 7.36
48.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.89RON 4.08
-59.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
$26.08RON 120
-41.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$0.63RON 2.88
87.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$0.64RON 2.91
18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$6.62RON 30.37
71.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.88RON 8.61
-29.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$29.6KRON 136.0K
-16.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$27.3KRON 125.1K
-19.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$206RON 947
-56.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$10.52RON 48.28
26.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$11.68RON 53.6
72.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$41.43RON 190
65.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
$22.75RON 104
-20.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$7.91RON 36.28
-15.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$441RON 2,025
-15.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$8,696RON 39.9K
23.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$58.8RON 270
72.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$49.69RON 228
-20.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$82.6RON 379
42.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$108RON 497
12.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$536RON 2,460
27.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$401RON 1,840
13.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
$921RON 4,225
41.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
$618RON 2,836
45.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
$2,767RON 12.7K
-11.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
$2,050RON 9,407
-29.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
$981RON 4,500
-33.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
6.84
84.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Craiova: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $536 in Craiova. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Craiova pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $38.00 in Craiova for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $202 per month, with Craiova 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 Craiova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Craiova?
Craiova wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Craiova the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Craiova?
On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Craiova. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Craiova?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $536 in Craiova. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Craiova?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,219 in Craiova – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Craiova?
A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 71% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Craiova?
At $1,219 in Craiova versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Craiova but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Craiova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Craiova?
Both work as nomad bases, but Craiova delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,219 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Craiova hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Craiova?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Craiova 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 Craiova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.