😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Tbilisi versus $700 in El Viejo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Tbilisi versus $1,148 in El Viejo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,483 in Tbilisi versus $1,597 in El Viejo.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 69% more expensive than El Viejo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi12% lower, El Viejo48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$4.97NIO 183
124.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$35.56NIO 1,307
21.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$7.10NIO 261
15.77%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$2.43NIO 89.4
28.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$0.84NIO 30.75
-11.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.74NIO 27.26
-39.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.33NIO 49.01
60.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.06NIO 75.6
45.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.26NIO 46.42
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$2.46NIO 90.4
-70.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.80NIO 66.1
2.78%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.24NIO 82.5
9.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$11.39NIO 419
-31.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$6.54NIO 240
-4.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$7.95NIO 292
22.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$4.01NIO 147
-69.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$0.89NIO 32.76
78.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.78NIO 65.6
0.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$2.25NIO 82.8
3.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$3.99NIO 147
-82.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$2.20NIO 80.8
-69.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$1.06NIO 39.15
11.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$1.01NIO 36.95
-29.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$2.72NIO 100
7.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$14.78NIO 543
-50.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$1.42NIO 52.0
9.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$2.24NIO 82.2
3.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$1.48NIO 54.4
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$6.89NIO 253
8.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$1.36NIO 49.94
-15.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$22.9KNIO 842.5K
-21.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$26.8KNIO 986.2K
-26.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$99.6NIO 3,660
-26.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$17.05NIO 627
-31.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$37.08NIO 1,363
-52.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$8.14NIO 299
-20.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$122NIO 4,502
114.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$5,932NIO 218.1K
-13.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$76.7NIO 2,819
1.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$72.3NIO 2,656
-38.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$133NIO 4,881
-11.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$106NIO 3,897
7.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
10.25
16.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for El Viejo: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $36.00 in El Viejo. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $262, with Tbilisi 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 El Viejo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Viejo cheaper than Tbilisi?
El Viejo is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,777 in Tbilisi and $1,050 in El Viejo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $263 in Tbilisi versus $122 in El Viejo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or El Viejo?
Dining out is cheaper in El Viejo – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or El Viejo?
At $700 in El Viejo versus $1,185 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Viejo but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes El Viejo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tbilisi or El Viejo more family-friendly?
For families, El Viejo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or El Viejo?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and El Viejo 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find El Viejo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.