😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Tbilisi versus $1,115 in Craiova.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Tbilisi versus $1,639 in Craiova.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Tbilisi versus $2,163 in Craiova.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 9% more expensive than Craiova, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Craiova17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₾28.75
$8.96RON 40.53
21.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.17₾117
$46.48RON 210
-4.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28₾21.94
$7.99RON 36.16
3.63%
Cappuccino
$3.02₾8.00
$2.59RON 11.73
16.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₾2.02
$2.09RON 9.44
-63.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.22
$1.87RON 8.44
-75.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24₾5.93
$2.35RON 10.61
-4.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₾7.95
$3.52RON 15.94
-14.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.51RON 6.84
27.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72₾1.91
$1.00RON 4.51
-28.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84₾4.87
$1.71RON 7.72
7.60%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.48
$3.27RON 14.78
-25.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.67
$7.76RON 35.10
-4.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48₾17.16
$6.54RON 29.60
-0.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70₾25.70
$9.45RON 42.75
2.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20₾3.18
$1.28RON 5.80
-6.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₾4.14
$1.69RON 7.64
-7.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.75
$1.57RON 7.11
14.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.90
$1.87RON 8.47
19.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₾1.73
$1.03RON 4.68
-36.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.79
$1.12RON 5.07
-39.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.16
$0.80RON 3.61
48.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.86
$0.80RON 3.64
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₾7.82
$6.03RON 27.26
-51.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₾19.41
$6.00RON 27.16
22.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52₾4.02
$1.31RON 5.95
16.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.95
$2.26RON 10.24
-0.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.67RON 3.02
-46.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.60₾38.68
$23.28RON 105
-37.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.97
$0.57RON 2.58
163.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.92
$0.83RON 3.77
-12.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾19.74
$7.10RON 32.12
4.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.01
$1.61RON 7.27
-29.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$27.5KRON 124.6K
-32.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₾53.6K
$27.8KRON 125.9K
-27.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.9₾196
$212RON 957
-65.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾31.01
$8.06RON 36.48
45.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16₾48.09
$11.54RON 52.2
57.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.7₾163
$36.06RON 163
71.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₾44.12
$18.75RON 84.8
-11.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61₾17.50
$6.69RON 30.28
-1.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₾700
$436RON 1,971
-39.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145₾13.6K
$8,920RON 40.4K
-42.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9₾198
$80.5RON 364
-6.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98₾117
$36.68RON 166
19.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾312
$78.5RON 355
49.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾301
$87.8RON 397
29.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692₾1,833
$387RON 1,751
78.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₾1,203
$307RON 1,389
47.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323₾3,504
$727RON 3,287
82.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,089
$448RON 2,028
75.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,431₾6,440
$2,639RON 11.9K
-7.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441₾3,818
$2,047RON 9,260
-29.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645₾1,709
$998RON 4,516
-35.39%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Craiova: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Tbilisi and $387 in Craiova. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Craiova pays 55% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $46.00 in Craiova. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $203, 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 9% 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 55% 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: $692 in Tbilisi versus $387 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 $1,218 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,115 in Craiova – a 9% 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 59% 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 $1,115 in Craiova versus $1,218 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 $1,115 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 9% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.