😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $604 in Erdenet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $852 in Erdenet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,100 in Erdenet.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 98% more expensive than in Erdenet, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Erdenet55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$3.87MNT 13.9K
179.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$29.70MNT 106.5K
47.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$4.44MNT 15.9K
87.16%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.57MNT 5,628
89.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.64MNT 2,284
20.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.40MNT 1,419
15.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$1.22MNT 4,367
75.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$1.33MNT 4,779
115.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.02MNT 3,641
86.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.72MNT 2,582
-1.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.80MNT 6,435
6.11%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$2.17MNT 7,776
14.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$9.76MNT 35.0K
-20.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$5.01MNT 18.0K
23.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$3.80MNT 13.6K
151.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.50MNT 8,974
-53.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$2.10MNT 7,528
-21.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$2.62MNT 9,373
-29.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$2.02MNT 7,245
15.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.72MNT 2,595
-1.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.00MNT 3,582
-33.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.84MNT 3,022
41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.69MNT 2,487
-4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.89MNT 10.4K
1.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$5.69MNT 20.4K
35.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.15MNT 4,139
38.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$1.32MNT 4,716
75.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.10MNT 349
280.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$4.76MNT 17.1K
210.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.46MNT 1,638
226.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.68MNT 2,431
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$5.28MNT 18.9K
37.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.92MNT 3,299
18.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$12.3KMNT 43.9M
51.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$10.5KMNT 37.6M
95.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$61.3MNT 219.7K
19.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$2.91MNT 10.4K
311.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$14.91MNT 53.4K
20.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$25.29MNT 90.7K
141.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$4.46MNT 16.0K
270.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$2.63MNT 9,412
154.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$193MNT 690.6K
39.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$2,617MNT 9.4M
96.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$28.90MNT 103.6K
164.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$29.19MNT 104.6K
48.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$87.2MNT 312.4K
38.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$89.5MNT 320.8K
23.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$174MNT 622.2K
295.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$131MNT 470.2K
258.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$580MNT 2.1M
133.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$225MNT 805.4K
193.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Erdenet: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $174 in Erdenet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 193% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $30.00 in Erdenet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $180 per month, with Erdenet cheaper across the board.
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 Erdenet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Erdenet?
Tbilisi and Erdenet differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $604 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Erdenet?
Average pay runs 193% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Erdenet?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $174 in Erdenet. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Erdenet?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $193 in Erdenet. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $604 in Erdenet versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erdenet but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Erdenet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Erdenet?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Erdenet safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Erdenet are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Erdenet?
Expats usually find Erdenet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.