Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and El Mahalla El Kubra Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and El Mahalla El Kubra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,286 per month in Tbilisi vs $424 in El Mahalla El Kubra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Tbilisi vs $686 in El Mahalla El Kubra, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Tbilisi vs $949 in El Mahalla El Kubra, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 203% more than El Mahalla El Kubra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and El Mahalla El Kubra are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 6% lower, El Mahalla El Kubra 69% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₾30.49
$4.26 E£217
175.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₾98.6
$14.91 E£758
154.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.74 ₾25.35
$3.07 E£156
217.26%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.88
$1.36 E£69.0
150.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₾2.76
$0.32 E£16.12
231.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₾1.68
$0.12 E£6.28
441.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 ₾7.04
$1.39 E£70.8
94.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ₾8.06
$2.91 E£148
6.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₾5.72
$0.85 E£43.44
158.82%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₾2.10
$0.29 E£14.62
179.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$0.57 E£29.25
187.72%
Eggs
$2.75 ₾7.17
$1.23 E£62.8
123.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 ₾23.45
$2.98 E£151
202.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 ₾17.05
$4.10 E£208
59.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 ₾32.84
$7.61 E£387
65.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 ₾4.35
$1.60 E£81.5
4.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₾4.72
$0.67 E£34.19
170.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 ₾5.02
$0.51 E£25.87
278.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 ₾6.74
$0.37 E£19.02
600.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$0.27 E£13.79
222.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.68
$0.33 E£16.92
96.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₾3.62
$0.29 E£14.86
379.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.07
$0.22 E£11.21
263.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₾8.76
$1.93 E£98.4
74.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₾19.62
$6.00 E£305
25.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₾4.20
$1.31 E£66.8
22.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.85
$2.69 E£137
-16.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₾0.96
$0.17 E£8.76
117.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.11 ₾39.33
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ₾3.05
$0.33 E£16.64
254.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₾2.08
$0.45 E£22.92
77.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.33 ₾29.49
$0.94 E£47.81
1105.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$0.40 E£20.35
232.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K ₾65.0K
$32.8K E£1.7M
-23.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₾58.3K
$23.6K E£1.2M
-5.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₾232
$14.19 E£722
527.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 ₾34.48
$4.12 E£210
221.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ₾50.7
$8.95 E£455
117.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 ₾178
$17.98 E£915
280.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 ₾48.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ₾17.27
$2.99 E£152
121.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₾946
$32.73 E£1,665
1010.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.7K
$2,190 E£111.4K
386.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₾269
$17.20 E£875
501.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84 ₾101
$45.15 E£2,297
-13.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾303
$107 E£5,450
8.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₾320
$55.9 E£2,841
119.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,776
$130 E£6,627
423.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 ₾1,162
$74.2 E£3,775
501.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₾3,342
$263 E£13.4K
389.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 ₾2,394
$154 E£7,824
498.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,487 ₾6,473
$787 E£40.0K
216.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ₾3,703
$409 E£20.8K
247.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
El Mahalla El Kubra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 ₾1,681
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.73
21.33
-40.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: August 31, 2026

Last update for El Mahalla El Kubra: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $130 in El Mahalla El Kubra. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Tbilisi versus $15.00 in El Mahalla El Kubra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $116 – making El Mahalla El Kubra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 El Mahalla El Kubra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and in El Mahalla El Kubra compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,286 in Tbilisi, $424 in El Mahalla El Kubra – roughly 203% apart. Tbilisi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to El Mahalla El Kubra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,929 per month in Tbilisi and $636 in El Mahalla El Kubra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and El Mahalla El Kubra?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Mahalla El Kubra, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tbilisi or El Mahalla El Kubra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,286 in Tbilisi and $424 in El Mahalla El Kubra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and El Mahalla El Kubra?
Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Tbilisi and $32.73 in El Mahalla El Kubra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Mahalla El Kubra, where all-in costs run around $424, than in Tbilisi at $1,286. In El Mahalla El Kubra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and El Mahalla El Kubra?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $424 in El Mahalla El Kubra to $1,286 in Tbilisi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or El Mahalla El Kubra safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Tbilisi and El Mahalla El Kubra?
If budget matters most, go with El Mahalla El Kubra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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