😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $615 in Erdenet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $862 in Erdenet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,110 in Erdenet.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 97% more expensive than Erdenet, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Erdenet54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.71
$4.05MNT 14.5K
166.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$29.03MNT 103.8K
48.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.04
$4.34MNT 15.5K
91.01%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.97
$1.59MNT 5,696
88.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.69MNT 2,467
18.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.39MNT 1,407
17.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$1.23MNT 4,393
81.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$1.32MNT 4,735
121.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.12
$1.00MNT 3,576
93.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.72MNT 2,586
-5.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾5.00
$1.80MNT 6,419
4.44%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.74
$2.13MNT 7,621
19.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$9.84MNT 35.2K
-24.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.44
$5.06MNT 18.1K
22.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.87
$3.97MNT 14.2K
135.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.46MNT 8,803
-50.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$2.03MNT 7,248
-18.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.62MNT 9,373
-31.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.06MNT 7,359
8.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$0.76MNT 2,730
-6.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$0.94MNT 3,351
-28.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.90MNT 3,229
31.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.68MNT 2,442
-2.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$3.00MNT 10.7K
-0.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.22
$5.74MNT 20.5K
32.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$1.16MNT 4,144
32.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.99
$1.36MNT 4,864
65.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.10MNT 359
260.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.38
$4.68MNT 16.7K
208.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.97
$0.43MNT 1,525
246.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.68MNT 2,446
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.20
$5.33MNT 19.1K
35.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.88MNT 3,131
29.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.1K
$12.6KMNT 44.9M
46.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.1K
$10.5KMNT 37.6M
90.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$63.4MNT 226.6K
16.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.92
$2.86MNT 10.2K
306.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.41
$14.88MNT 53.2K
19.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$24.77MNT 88.6K
142.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.65
$4.36MNT 15.6K
285.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.55
$2.72MNT 9,738
142.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$195MNT 696.1K
36.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$2,663MNT 9.5M
94.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$29.04MNT 103.8K
167.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$29.89MNT 106.9K
49.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$90.1MNT 322.0K
29.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$89.3MNT 319.1K
26.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,840
$180MNT 642.5K
285.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,227
$135MNT 482.5K
242.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,507
$596MNT 2.1M
121.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,057
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,842
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Erdenet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,788
$221MNT 790.1K
204.52%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Erdenet: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $180 in Erdenet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 205% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $29.00 in Erdenet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $181 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 Erdenet?
Tbilisi and Erdenet differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $615 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?
Tbilisi pays 205% more on average, 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 Erdenet?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $180 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 $266 in Tbilisi versus $195 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 12% 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 $615 in Erdenet versus $1,209 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 97% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.