Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and El Medano Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and El Medano

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,372 in El Medano, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,639 in El Medano, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $3,907 in El Medano, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 14% cheaper than El Medano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tbilisi sits 12% below the global median, while El Medano is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$17.21 €14.73
-35.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$58.7 €50.3
-26.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$10.28 €8.80
-20.04%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$2.03 €1.74
54.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$1.82 €1.55
-59.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$1.02 €0.87
-55.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$2.92 €2.50
-27.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$3.19 €2.73
-6.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.23 €1.05
53.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$1.76 €1.50
-58.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$1.44 €1.23
28.47%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$3.03 €2.60
-19.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$15.22 €13.03
-48.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$8.25 €7.07
-24.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$14.58 €12.48
-32.99%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$2.43 €2.08
-50.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.69 €1.44
-5.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$1.65 €1.41
8.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$2.64 €2.26
-12.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$1.55 €1.33
-54.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$1.70 €1.45
-60.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$1.47 €1.26
-19.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$0.65 €0.56
9.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$5.14 €4.40
-43.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$7.90 €6.77
-8.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$1.59 €1.36
-2.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$1.40 €1.20
65.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
$1.72 €1.47
-77.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
$17.28 €14.79
-14.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$4.72 €4.04
-68.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$1.28 €1.09
-46.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$17.66 €15.12
-57.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.35 €1.15
-14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$27.8K €23.8K
-35.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$30.2K €25.8K
-34.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$91.3 €78.1
-19.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$21.56 €18.46
-46.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$31.04 €26.57
-42.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
$45.92 €39.31
31.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
$14.83 €12.69
10.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$10.01 €8.57
-34.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$344 €295
-23.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$8,393 €7,185
-38.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$83.7 €71.7
-7.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$33.88 €29.01
31.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$87.2 €74.6
34.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$68.6 €58.7
66.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
$1,040 €890
-33.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
$486 €416
-4.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
$1,866 €1,598
-28.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
$1,847 €1,581
-57.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
$3,598 €3,080
-29.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
$2,405 €2,058
-40.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
El Medano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
3.5
239.71%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for El Medano: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $1,040 in El Medano. 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $59.0 in El Medano. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $269 – making Tbilisi 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 Medano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tbilisi and El Medano compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi, $1,372 in El Medano – roughly 16% apart. El Medano costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tbilisi compared to El Medano?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $2,058 in El Medano. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tbilisi and El Medano?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and El Medano?
Kindergarten costs $263 per month in Tbilisi and $344 in El Medano. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 31% more in El Medano, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,185, than in El Medano at $1,372. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in El Medano it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and El Medano?
It depends on your priorities. Tbilisi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,185 in Tbilisi to $1,372 in El Medano. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tbilisi or El Medano 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 Medano?
If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, El Medano makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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