Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and ElkCost 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 – Tbilisi9% lower, Elk7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.45
$9.18zł 34.90
23.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$43.13zł 164
-10.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.73
$7.92zł 30.14
20.20%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$3.21zł 12.22
6.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$1.97zł 7.48
-47.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$1.70zł 6.47
-62.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.62zł 9.95
-0.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$4.03zł 15.32
-19.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$1.03zł 3.90
110.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$1.27zł 4.84
-41.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$1.68zł 6.37
1.79%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$2.49zł 9.48
13.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.95
$4.68zł 17.79
97.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$6.29zł 23.93
7.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.17
$14.50zł 55.1
-11.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$1.11zł 4.21
47.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.66zł 6.33
6.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$1.64zł 6.23
14.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$3.46zł 13.15
-29.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$0.92zł 3.49
-5.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$1.47zł 5.60
-55.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.64
$1.58zł 6.01
-11.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.55zł 2.09
34.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$4.74zł 18.03
-28.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$7.47zł 28.42
1.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$1.32zł 5.01
28.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.20
$1.34zł 5.11
77.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$0.76zł 2.90
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.60
$22.32zł 84.9
-31.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$2.18zł 8.30
-45.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$0.56zł 2.11
35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.47
$6.57zł 24.97
72.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.54zł 5.86
-13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$32.0Kzł 121.5K
-22.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$28.4Kzł 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
$196zł 744
-54.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.63
$7.04zł 26.77
89.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$14.07zł 53.5
43.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$30.72zł 117
123.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾47.01
$36.68zł 139
-50.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.46
$6.84zł 26.03
-1.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾971
$316zł 1,203
18.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$5,392zł 20.5K
98.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$88.9zł 338
13.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$26.70zł 102
47.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$86.7zł 329
35.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$121zł 459
1.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,773
$541zł 2,058
26.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$470zł 1,787
-2.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,385
$942zł 3,583
38.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,337
$826zł 3,140
8.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,365
$2,294zł 8,724
6.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,774
$1,994zł 7,583
-27.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Elk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,695
$1,265zł 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.