Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Elk Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Elk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,273 in Elk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,934 in Elk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,596 in Elk, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 2% cheaper than Elk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tbilisi and Elk are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Elk 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 ₾29.45
$9.18 zł 34.90
23.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71 ₾101
$43.13 zł 164
-10.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.52 ₾24.73
$7.92 zł 30.14
20.20%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₾8.85
$3.21 zł 12.22
6.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₾2.71
$1.97 zł 7.48
-47.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₾1.66
$1.70 zł 6.47
-62.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ₾6.79
$2.62 zł 9.95
-0.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ₾8.43
$4.03 zł 15.32
-19.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₾5.65
$1.03 zł 3.90
110.68%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ₾1.92
$1.27 zł 4.84
-41.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₾4.45
$1.68 zł 6.37
1.79%
Eggs
$2.83 ₾7.36
$2.49 zł 9.48
13.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 ₾23.95
$4.68 zł 17.79
97.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 ₾17.55
$6.29 zł 23.93
7.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ₾33.17
$14.50 zł 55.1
-11.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.26
$1.11 zł 4.21
47.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₾4.60
$1.66 zł 6.33
6.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾4.85
$1.64 zł 6.23
14.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 ₾6.34
$3.46 zł 13.15
-29.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₾2.25
$0.92 zł 3.49
-5.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.70
$1.47 zł 5.60
-55.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 ₾3.64
$1.58 zł 6.01
-11.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾1.93
$0.55 zł 2.09
34.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₾8.86
$4.74 zł 18.03
-28.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₾19.75
$7.47 zł 28.42
1.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₾4.41
$1.32 zł 5.01
28.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₾6.20
$1.34 zł 5.11
77.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.94
$0.76 zł 2.90
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.24 ₾39.60
$22.32 zł 84.9
-31.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₾3.07
$2.18 zł 8.30
-45.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₾1.97
$0.56 zł 2.11
35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.34 ₾29.47
$6.57 zł 24.97
72.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₾3.46
$1.54 zł 5.86
-13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ₾64.2K
$32.0K zł 121.5K
-22.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₾57.2K
$28.4K zł 108.2K
-22.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ₾231
$196 zł 744
-54.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 ₾34.63
$7.04 zł 26.77
89.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ₾52.3
$14.07 zł 53.5
43.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ₾178
$30.72 zł 117
123.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09 ₾47.01
$36.68 zł 139
-50.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 ₾17.46
$6.84 zł 26.03
-1.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 ₾971
$316 zł 1,203
18.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₾27.8K
$5,392 zł 20.5K
98.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 ₾263
$88.9 zł 338
13.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 ₾102
$26.70 zł 102
47.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾305
$86.7 zł 329
35.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₾318
$121 zł 459
1.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 ₾1,773
$541 zł 2,058
26.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 ₾1,186
$470 zł 1,787
-2.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₾3,385
$942 zł 3,583
38.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 ₾2,337
$826 zł 3,140
8.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 ₾6,365
$2,294 zł 8,724
6.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,452 ₾3,774
$1,994 zł 7,583
-27.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 ₾1,695
$1,265 zł 4,810
-48.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.62
6.21
103.22%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Elk: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Tbilisi versus $541 in Elk. 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 94% higher in Elk, 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 $39.00 in Tbilisi versus $43.00 in Elk. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Tbilisi vs $211 in Elk – so Elk 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 Elk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elk cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Elk is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,870 per month in Tbilisi and $1,909 in Elk. 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 Tbilisi, 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 in Elk?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Elk – 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 in Elk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Tbilisi and $43.00 in Elk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tbilisi or in Elk?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Elk at $1,273. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Elk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tbilisi – 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 Elk?
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 Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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