Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Elva Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Elva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,045 in Elva, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,633 in Elva, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,483 per month in Tbilisi vs $2,221 in Elva, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 13% more than Elva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tbilisi and Elva are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Elva 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.15 ₾30.00
$15.94 €13.65
-30.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.13 ₾116
$70.1 €60.0
-38.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 ₾22.11
$9.67 €8.28
-14.99%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ₾8.42
$3.68 €3.15
-14.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₾2.00
$2.45 €2.10
-69.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₾1.22
$2.50 €2.14
-82.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ₾5.74
$5.32 €4.55
-59.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ₾8.06
$5.66 €4.85
-47.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₾5.09
$1.31 €1.12
44.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₾1.97
$1.49 €1.28
-51.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ₾4.98
$2.32 €1.98
-20.26%
Eggs
$2.45 ₾6.58
$2.85 €2.44
-14.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.85 ₾21.12
$12.24 €10.48
-35.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 ₾16.82
$8.69 €7.44
-28.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 ₾26.28
$11.14 €9.54
-12.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 ₾3.26
$1.95 €1.67
-37.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₾4.28
$1.52 €1.30
4.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₾4.81
$2.49 €2.13
-28.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 ₾6.25
$2.50 €2.14
-7.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.91
$1.00 €0.86
-29.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$1.00 €0.85
-33.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.16
$1.94 €1.66
-39.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₾1.92
$1.06 €0.91
-33.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₾7.85
$6.43 €5.50
-54.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 ₾19.50
$10.94 €9.36
-33.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₾4.17
$1.93 €1.65
-19.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₾6.21
$2.19 €1.88
5.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₾1.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.81 ₾39.83
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ₾3.98
$3.30 €2.83
-55.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₾1.86
$0.75 €0.64
-8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 ₾20.05
$17.61 €15.07
-57.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₾3.10
$1.94 €1.66
-40.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₾48.4K
$29.5K €25.2K
-38.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ₾53.4K
$30.3K €25.9K
-34.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 ₾198
$274 €234
-73.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾31.32
$20.69 €17.71
-43.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.77 ₾47.79
$35.20 €30.13
-49.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 ₾163
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 ₾44.21
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₾17.52
$11.59 €9.92
-43.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₾707
$116 €99.7
125.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 ₾13.8K
$7,833 €6,705
-34.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾209
$113 €96.7
-31.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 ₾119
$39.85 €34.11
11.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾317
$97.0 €83.1
21.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₾307
$110 €94.2
3.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,865
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,244
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 ₾3,597
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₾2,096
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,530 ₾6,805
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,430 ₾3,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Elva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ₾1,702
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.3
176.51%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Elva: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $70.0 in Elva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $265 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Elva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elva cheaper than Tbilisi?
Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 13%, 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 $1,567 in Elva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Tbilisi or Elva?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tbilisi and $70.0 in Elva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tbilisi and Elva?
Interestingly, groceries are about 29% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tbilisi or Elva?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elva, where all-in costs run around $1,045, than in Tbilisi at $1,185. In Elva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tbilisi or Elva more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Elva – 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 Elva?
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 Elva. 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.

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