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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,386 in Elk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,028 in Elk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,670 in Elk, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 15% cheaper than Elk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Tbilisi sits 12% below the global median, while Elk is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.15 ₾30.00

$7.90 zł 28.69

41.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.13 ₾116

$40.25 zł 146

7.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ₾22.11

$6.75 zł 24.51

21.78%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ₾8.42

$2.13 zł 7.72

46.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾2.00

$2.06 zł 7.49

-64.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₾1.22

$1.12 zł 4.07

-59.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ₾5.74

$3.95 zł 14.34

-46.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₾8.06

$3.99 zł 14.48

-25.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₾5.09

$1.07 zł 3.88

76.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.97

$1.35 zł 4.90

-45.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.98

$1.88 zł 6.81

-1.60%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.58

$2.59 zł 9.40

-5.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₾21.12

$4.96 zł 18.00

58.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ₾16.82

$6.44 zł 23.36

-2.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 ₾26.28

$13.11 zł 47.59

-25.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₾3.26

$1.10 zł 3.99

10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₾4.28

$1.81 zł 6.59

-12.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.81

$2.04 zł 7.42

-12.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 ₾6.25

$2.88 zł 10.45

-19.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₾1.91

$0.90 zł 3.26

-21.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.81

$1.09 zł 3.97

-38.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.16

$1.41 zł 5.11

-16.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₾1.92

$0.55 zł 2.00

29.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.85

$5.22 zł 18.94

-44.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.25 ₾19.50

$7.54 zł 27.36

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.17

$1.17 zł 4.24

32.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₾6.21

$1.37 zł 4.98

68.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₾1.03

$1.07 zł 3.89

-64.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 ₾39.83

$32.21 zł 117

-54.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₾3.98

$2.23 zł 8.09

-33.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.86

$0.49 zł 1.77

40.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾20.05

$13.40 zł 48.63

-44.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₾3.10

$1.69 zł 6.14

-31.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K ₾48.4K

$32.0K zł 116.2K

-43.76%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.8K ₾53.4K

$31.1K zł 112.8K

-36.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.4 ₾198

$310 zł 1,127

-76.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾31.32

$6.73 zł 24.41

72.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 ₾47.79

$13.41 zł 48.69

32.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ₾163

$36.28 zł 132

66.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 ₾44.21

$19.33 zł 70.2

-14.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.52

$6.90 zł 25.04

-5.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$263 ₾707

$322 zł 1,170

-18.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 ₾13.8K

$5,480 zł 19.9K

-6.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 ₾209

$84.4 zł 306

-7.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 ₾119

$27.27 zł 99.0

62.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾317

$83.7 zł 304

40.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾307

$88.8 zł 323

28.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ₾1,865

$551 zł 2,001

25.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₾1,244

$466 zł 1,692

-0.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 ₾3,597

$935 zł 3,394

43.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₾2,096

$853 zł 3,097

-8.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,530 ₾6,805

$2,343 zł 8,505

7.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,430 ₾3,847

$2,108 zł 7,651

-32.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ₾1,702

$1,280 zł 4,645

-50.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

69.86%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Elk: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $551 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 102% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $40.00 in Elk. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Tbilisi vs $208 in Elk – 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 Elk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Elk is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,777 per month in Tbilisi and $2,079 in Elk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Elk, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $40.00 in Elk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,185, than in Elk at $1,386. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.