😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $497 in Gampaha.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $872 in Gampaha.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,247 in Gampaha.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 141% more expensive than in Gampaha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Gampaha63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$1.72LKR 577
529.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$25.50LKR 8,569
71.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$5.05LKR 1,697
64.55%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.13LKR 715
39.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.69LKR 231
11.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.38LKR 127
21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.21LKR 743
-3.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$1.64LKR 552
75.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.78LKR 597
6.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.52LKR 176
36.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$0.73LKR 244
161.64%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$2.21LKR 741
12.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$14.34LKR 4,819
-46.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$4.38LKR 1,470
41.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$7.94LKR 2,667
20.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$6.63LKR 2,226
-82.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.07LKR 359
54.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$5.74LKR 1,929
-67.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.25LKR 421
86.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.07LKR 358
-33.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.38LKR 464
-51.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.31LKR 105
283.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.36LKR 120
83.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$10.14LKR 3,407
-71.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$12.48LKR 4,193
-38.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.54LKR 517
3.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$2.64LKR 889
-12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.34LKR 115
11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.32LKR 106
368.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.35LKR 118
94.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$0.58LKR 195
1151.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$1.26LKR 425
-13.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$26.9KLKR 9.0M
-30.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$34.7KLKR 11.7M
-41.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$30.47LKR 10.2K
139.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$3.31LKR 1,111
261.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$12.24LKR 4,112
47.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$8.51LKR 2,861
616.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$3.40LKR 1,144
97.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$16.81LKR 5,649
1498.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$137LKR 45.9K
3672.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$27.31LKR 9,176
180.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$9.88LKR 3,322
339.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$67.0LKR 22.5K
79.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$26.60LKR 8,939
315.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$98.9LKR 33.2K
594.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$62.9LKR 21.2K
647.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$333LKR 112.1K
305.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$186LKR 62.4K
324.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Gampaha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$219LKR 73.5K
201.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
10
18.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Gampaha: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $98.9 in Gampaha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 201% 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 $26.00 in Gampaha. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $242, 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 Gampaha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Gampaha?
Tbilisi and Gampaha differ by about 141% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $497 including rent). Gampaha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Gampaha?
Average pay runs 201% 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 Gampaha?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $98.9 in Gampaha. 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 Gampaha?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $16.81 in Gampaha. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Gampaha – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $44.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $497 in Gampaha versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gampaha but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Gampaha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Gampaha?
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 Gampaha safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Gampaha 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 Gampaha?
Expats usually find Gampaha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.