😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $1,106 in Craiova.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,643 in Craiova.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $2,180 in Craiova.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 7% more expensive than Craiova, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, Craiova17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$9.06RON 39.52
23.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$45.77RON 200
-5.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$8.27RON 36.06
-0.60%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.49RON 10.84
25.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$2.19RON 9.53
-66.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$1.96RON 8.56
-77.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$2.37RON 10.32
-10.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$3.44RON 14.98
-13.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.57RON 6.83
20.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.99RON 4.31
-26.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.69RON 7.38
9.47%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$3.35RON 14.60
-26.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$7.70RON 33.59
1.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$6.71RON 29.25
-6.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$9.78RON 42.65
-0.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$1.27RON 5.53
-4.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$1.66RON 7.25
-4.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.57RON 6.85
14.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$1.82RON 7.94
27.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$1.03RON 4.50
-31.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.10RON 4.78
-39.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.85RON 3.70
38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.76RON 3.31
-6.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$5.95RON 25.95
-50.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$6.35RON 27.67
14.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.25RON 5.47
24.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.19RON 9.55
5.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.71RON 3.09
-46.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$23.01RON 100
-35.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$0.61RON 2.65
142.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$0.81RON 3.54
-14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$6.87RON 29.96
8.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.57RON 6.83
-26.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$27.9KRON 121.4K
-35.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$27.4KRON 119.4K
-27.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$207RON 902
-64.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$7.90RON 34.45
47.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$11.74RON 51.2
51.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$36.46RON 159
66.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$18.49RON 80.6
-11.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$6.75RON 29.43
-3.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$445RON 1,941
-41.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$8,844RON 38.6K
-41.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$78.9RON 344
-1.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$37.74RON 165
17.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$78.6RON 343
49.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$85.5RON 373
33.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$382RON 1,668
81.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$315RON 1,374
46.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$720RON 3,141
85.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$444RON 1,935
75.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$2,730RON 11.9K
-7.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$2,095RON 9,133
-31.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$1,077RON 4,697
-41.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
6.28
89.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Craiova: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $382 in Craiova. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Craiova pays 70% 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 $46.00 in Craiova. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $205, with Craiova 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 Craiova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Craiova?
Craiova wins on cost – living expenses run 7% 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 Craiova?
On paper, Craiova earns 70% less. 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 vs Craiova?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $382 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 $1,185 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,106 in Craiova – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Craiova?
A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 55% 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 Craiova?
At $1,106 in Craiova versus $1,185 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 $1,106 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 7% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.