😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $1,109 in Craiova.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,650 in Craiova.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $2,191 in Craiova.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 7% more expensive than in Craiova, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Craiova17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$9.38RON 42.65
16.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$45.95RON 209
-6.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$7.96RON 36.18
7.16%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$2.49RON 11.31
20.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$2.10RON 9.54
-61.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$1.92RON 8.75
-78.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$2.25RON 10.21
-4.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$3.35RON 15.23
-14.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.56RON 7.09
24.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$1.00RON 4.54
-32.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$1.71RON 7.77
8.19%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$3.23RON 14.66
-21.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$7.72RON 35.11
-2.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$6.48RON 29.47
-3.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$9.81RON 44.59
-2.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$1.23RON 5.61
-5.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.70RON 7.73
-3.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$1.60RON 7.27
17.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$1.84RON 8.36
21.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$1.07RON 4.88
-34.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$1.14RON 5.17
-43.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$0.80RON 3.64
47.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.80RON 3.65
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$5.88RON 26.74
-49.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$6.34RON 28.81
17.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$1.30RON 5.91
18.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$2.25RON 10.24
1.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
$0.72RON 3.28
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
$23.02RON 105
-36.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$0.56RON 2.54
153.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.89RON 4.04
-22.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$6.75RON 30.69
7.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.60RON 7.29
-31.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$27.5KRON 124.9K
-33.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$27.6KRON 125.6K
-25.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$212RON 964
-64.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$8.08RON 36.73
44.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$11.58RON 52.6
51.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
$37.03RON 168
62.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
$18.97RON 86.2
-14.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$6.54RON 29.76
-0.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$434RON 1,971
-37.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$8,856RON 40.3K
-41.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$78.5RON 357
-1.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$37.91RON 172
14.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$77.6RON 353
52.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$86.8RON 394
29.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
$386RON 1,756
83.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
$317RON 1,439
46.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
$706RON 3,209
86.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
$436RON 1,980
76.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
$2,735RON 12.4K
-8.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
$1,998RON 9,082
-27.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Craiova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
$945RON 4,297
-29.87%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Craiova: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $386 in Craiova. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Craiova pays 43% 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 for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $204 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 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 in Craiova?
On paper, salaries run 43% 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: $709 in Tbilisi versus $386 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 $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,109 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 compared to Craiova?
A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 56% 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 $1,109 in Craiova versus $1,191 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 $1,109 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.