😐A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $916 in Elbasan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,471 in Elbasan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,026 in Elbasan, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 29% more than Elbasan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Elbasan are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi12% lower, Elbasan32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15₾30.00
$9.24ALL 754
20.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13₾116
$31.89ALL 2,604
35.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22₾22.11
$7.18ALL 586
14.48%
Cappuccino
$3.13₾8.42
$1.80ALL 147
73.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74₾2.00
$1.27ALL 103
-41.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₾1.22
$0.68ALL 55.4
-33.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₾5.74
$1.74ALL 142
22.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₾8.06
$2.37ALL 194
26.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₾5.09
$1.84ALL 150
2.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₾1.97
$0.92ALL 74.9
-20.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.98
$1.56ALL 128
18.59%
Eggs
$2.45₾6.58
$2.91ALL 238
-15.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85₾21.12
$9.77ALL 798
-19.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25₾16.82
$5.34ALL 436
17.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77₾26.28
$12.41ALL 1,013
-21.27%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₾3.26
$0.91ALL 74.5
32.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₾4.28
$2.37ALL 193
-32.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₾4.81
$1.26ALL 103
42.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₾6.25
$0.89ALL 73.1
160.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.91
$0.92ALL 75.3
-22.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.81
$1.09ALL 88.8
-38.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.16
$0.98ALL 80.3
20.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₾1.92
$0.60ALL 49.04
18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.85
$3.99ALL 326
-26.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25₾19.50
$8.24ALL 672
-12.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55₾4.17
$0.92ALL 75.4
68.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.21
$1.46ALL 119
58.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.03
$0.45ALL 36.64
-15.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.81₾39.83
$18.66ALL 1,523
-20.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48₾3.98
$3.60ALL 294
-58.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.86
$1.29ALL 105
-46.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45₾20.05
$14.36ALL 1,173
-48.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₾3.10
$2.11ALL 172
-45.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K₾48.4K
$21.0KALL 1.7M
-14.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾53.4K
$27.5KALL 2.2M
-27.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₾198
$67.2ALL 5,487
9.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾31.32
$17.26ALL 1,409
-32.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77₾47.79
$15.29ALL 1,248
16.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6₾163
$65.6ALL 5,359
-7.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44₾44.21
$16.37ALL 1,336
0.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.52
$5.43ALL 443
19.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263₾707
$139ALL 11.4K
88.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,136₾13.8K
$1,789ALL 146.1K
187.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾209
$104ALL 8,511
-25.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39₾119
$34.21ALL 2,793
29.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾317
$93.8ALL 7,660
25.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₾307
$180ALL 14.7K
-36.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,865
$289ALL 23.6K
139.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,244
$198ALL 16.2K
133.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337₾3,597
$421ALL 34.4K
217.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779₾2,096
$300ALL 24.5K
159.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,530₾6,805
$1,362ALL 111.2K
85.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430₾3,847
$847ALL 69.1K
68.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Elbasan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$633₾1,702
$550ALL 44.9K
14.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
6.1
94.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Elbasan: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $289 in Elbasan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 15% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $32.00 in Elbasan. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Tbilisi vs $207 in Elbasan – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Elbasan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elbasan cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $1,374 in Elbasan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Elbasan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Elbasan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Elbasan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $32.00 in Elbasan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Elbasan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elbasan, where all-in costs run around $916, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Elbasan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Elbasan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Elbasan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tbilisi or Elbasan?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Elbasan. 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.