Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Esmeraldas Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Esmeraldas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $921 in Esmeraldas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $1,389 in Esmeraldas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $1,857 in Esmeraldas.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 28% more expensive than in Esmeraldas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Esmeraldas 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.09 ₾29.33

$3.96 $3.96

180.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.24 ₾114

$32.81 $32.81

31.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.55 ₾22.62

$4.11 $4.11

108.03%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.86

$2.82 $2.82

5.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₾2.01

$0.52 $0.52

46.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.52 $0.52

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ₾5.87

$1.97 $1.97

12.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.72

$4.04 $4.04

-27.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ₾5.21

$0.98 $0.98

101.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.94

$1.56 $1.56

-53.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 ₾4.81

$1.78 $1.78

2.25%

Eggs

$2.49 ₾6.60

$1.47 $1.47

69.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 ₾20.26

$8.89 $8.89

-13.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.27 ₾16.58

$7.98 $7.98

-21.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.50 ₾25.12

$8.29 $8.29

14.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ₾3.24

$2.03 $2.03

-39.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.32

$1.21 $1.21

35.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.95

$1.04 $1.04

79.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₾6.01

$1.34 $1.34

69.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.77

$1.38 $1.38

-51.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.78

$1.07 $1.07

-37.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ₾3.23

$0.52 $0.52

134.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.85

$1.06 $1.06

-33.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.72

$6.16 $6.16

-52.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 ₾20.40

$7.84 $7.84

-1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.09

$1.54 $1.54

0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₾5.86

$2.98 $2.98

-25.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.37 $0.37

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.67 ₾38.78

$23.92 $23.92

-38.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₾3.82

$1.47 $1.47

-2.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$1.28 $1.28

-46.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.37 ₾19.50

$9.92 $9.92

-25.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.03

$0.71 $0.71

60.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.2K ₾48.0K

$19.8K $19.8K

-8.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K ₾54.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

-21.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.6 ₾195

$33.96 $33.96

116.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.64 ₾30.78

$14.16 $14.16

-17.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.63 ₾46.62

$29.03 $29.03

-39.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 ₾162

$30.45 $30.45

101.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.85 ₾44.55

$14.82 $14.82

13.70%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 ₾17.69

$7.06 $7.06

-5.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$264 ₾698

$275 $275

-3.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,169 ₾13.7K

$8,558 $8,558

-39.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 ₾199

$57.9 $57.9

29.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.26 ₾114

$42.83 $42.83

1.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾311

$102 $102

14.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾295

$87.2 $87.2

27.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 ₾1,866

$337 $337

109.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₾1,220

$312 $312

48.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,318 ₾3,486

$630 $630

109.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$781 ₾2,064

$489 $489

59.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 ₾6,512

$1,272 $1,272

93.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₾3,725

$700 $700

101.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$672 ₾1,778

$441 $441

52.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

11.19

6.26%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Esmeraldas: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $337 in Esmeraldas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 52% 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 $33.00 in Esmeraldas. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $209, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Esmeraldas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Esmeraldas is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 52% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Tbilisi versus $337 in Esmeraldas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Esmeraldas – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $921 in Esmeraldas versus $1,178 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Esmeraldas but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Esmeraldas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Esmeraldas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Esmeraldas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Esmeraldas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.