😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $780 in El Viejo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,254 in El Viejo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,728 in El Viejo.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 60% more expensive than in El Viejo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, El Viejo43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$10.11NIO 370
12.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$37.45NIO 1,372
3.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$7.48NIO 274
27.27%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$2.54NIO 93.0
34.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$0.85NIO 30.98
22.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.73NIO 26.90
-12.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$1.40NIO 51.4
86.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$1.95NIO 71.3
66.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.23NIO 44.99
76.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$2.40NIO 88.0
-69.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$1.76NIO 64.5
-2.84%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$2.38NIO 87.2
18.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$11.60NIO 425
-20.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$6.78NIO 248
-0.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$7.29NIO 267
75.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$3.61NIO 132
-54.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$0.63NIO 22.97
180.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$1.85NIO 67.7
1.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$2.28NIO 83.6
7.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$3.85NIO 141
-77.40%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$2.16NIO 79.0
-69.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$1.00NIO 36.66
40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$1.03NIO 37.71
-28.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$2.72NIO 99.5
25.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$14.52NIO 532
-47.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.47NIO 53.8
15.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$2.27NIO 83.1
4.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$1.61NIO 59.0
-26.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$1.60NIO 58.5
-52.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$6.62NIO 242
71.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.33NIO 48.71
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$22.5KNIO 825.7K
9.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$26.8KNIO 980.7K
-17.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$118NIO 4,313
-24.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$16.92NIO 620
-21.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$36.25NIO 1,328
-44.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$8.74NIO 320
-23.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$233NIO 8,544
60.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$6,018NIO 220.4K
77.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$71.0NIO 2,600
42.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$73.7NIO 2,698
-46.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$133NIO 4,878
-11.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$109NIO 4,003
11.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
El Viejo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
10.25
23.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for El Viejo: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $37.00 in El Viejo. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $257, 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 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,870 in Tbilisi and $1,170 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 $374 in Tbilisi versus $233 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 in El Viejo?
Dining out is cheaper in El Viejo – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in El Viejo?
At $780 in El Viejo versus $1,247 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 60% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.