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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,390 in Elk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,856 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,016 in Elk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,642 in Elk, rent included.

Tbilisi is about 14% cheaper than Elk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Tbilisi sits 11% below the global median, while Elk is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91 ₾28.56
$7.95 zł 29.64
37.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19 ₾113
$40.96 zł 153
5.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 ₾22.31
$6.61 zł 24.66
29.05%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ₾7.81
$2.22 zł 8.29
34.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₾2.12
$2.07 zł 7.73
-60.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₾1.09
$1.07 zł 3.99
-60.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.65
$4.14 zł 15.44
-47.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₾7.52
$4.01 zł 14.94
-28.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ₾5.08
$1.03 zł 3.83
88.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.77
$1.35 zł 5.05
-49.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.83
$1.87 zł 6.98
-1.07%
Eggs
$2.53 ₾6.62
$2.62 zł 9.78
-3.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 ₾19.69
$4.93 zł 18.41
52.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 ₾16.39
$6.49 zł 24.21
-3.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 ₾25.09
$13.29 zł 49.57
-27.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.04
$1.04 zł 3.89
11.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₾4.29
$1.89 zł 7.05
-13.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.93
$2.02 zł 7.53
-6.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₾5.84
$2.89 zł 10.77
-22.84%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.91 zł 3.40
-23.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₾1.68
$1.08 zł 4.03
-40.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.09
$1.35 zł 5.05
-12.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.83
$0.51 zł 1.92
37.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₾7.78
$5.47 zł 20.41
-45.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.43 ₾19.45
$7.19 zł 26.82
3.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.03
$1.11 zł 4.14
38.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₾5.98
$1.37 zł 5.12
66.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.93
$1.11 zł 4.16
-67.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.73 ₾38.54
$32.67 zł 122
-54.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ₾3.71
$2.20 zł 8.21
-35.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.81
$0.48 zł 1.80
43.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ₾19.02
$13.72 zł 51.2
-47.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₾2.86
$1.76 zł 6.56
-38.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K ₾47.9K
$32.9K zł 122.7K
-44.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₾53.6K
$31.0K zł 115.7K
-33.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 ₾195
$313 zł 1,168
-76.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ₾30.63
$6.95 zł 25.94
68.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ₾46.06
$13.50 zł 50.3
30.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾158
$36.42 zł 136
65.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 ₾42.63
$19.74 zł 73.6
-17.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.03
$6.93 zł 25.83
-6.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 ₾704
$311 zł 1,160
-13.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,154 ₾13.5K
$5,507 zł 20.5K
-6.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 ₾202
$84.8 zł 316
-9.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾114
$26.81 zł 100.0
62.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾310
$84.0 zł 313
40.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾295
$88.6 zł 330
27.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₾1,856
$548 zł 2,043
29.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 ₾1,215
$462 zł 1,724
0.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₾3,442
$938 zł 3,498
40.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₾2,007
$864 zł 3,224
-11.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,492 ₾6,522
$2,272 zł 8,475
9.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,442 ₾3,773
$1,963 zł 7,323
-26.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 ₾1,735
$1,258 zł 4,692
-47.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
7
69.86%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Elk: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $709 in Tbilisi versus $548 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 90% 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 $41.00 in Elk. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $207 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
Is Elk cheaper than Tbilisi?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,787 per month in Tbilisi and $2,085 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?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or in Elk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $41.00 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 $1,191, than in Elk at $1,390. 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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